COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 25 MARCH 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mr Conall McDevitt MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
In Attendance: Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer)
Mr Craig Mealey (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.00 pm in public session
1. Apologies
Apologies as above
2. Chairperson’s Business.
The Chairperson informed members that there had been changes to the meetings agenda to include a Departmental briefing on Mephedrone.
2.02 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill joined the meeting.
2.03 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill joined the meeting.
2.04 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 18 March 2010.
The minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2010 were agreed.
4. Matters arising.
The Committee noted the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
The Committee noted a response from Belfast Trust about the comparative costs of using agency & bank nurses and agreed to write to the Trust for further information.
The Committee noted a copy of ‘Living Matters: Dying Matters – A Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy for Northern Ireland’ and agreed to write to the Minister about this matter.
The Committee agreed a letter to the Public Accounts Committee and the Northern Ireland Audit Office providing it with a report on recent evidence taken by the Committee on the NIAO ‘General Report on the Health and Social Care Sector in Northern Ireland’.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the Minister to Committee for the Office of the First Minister & deputy First Minister about funding for the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister to correspondence from the Committee for the Environment regarding the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill and agreed to forward this to the Committee for the Environment.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding swine flu and agreed to write to the Minister for further information.
5. Discussion on Proposed Autism Bill
The Committee discussed legal advice received on proposed autism legislation and agreed to seek further legal advice.
2.24 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.
2.29 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
6. Departmental briefing on Mephedrone
The Committee were briefed by
Mr Rob Phipps Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Mr Mike Mawhinney Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Ms Linda Devlin Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
2.34 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting.
3.24 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
3.25 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
3.25 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill took the chair.
3.25 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan left the meeting.
7. Departmental briefing on GP Out - Of - Hours provision in Northern Ireland
The Committee took evidence from
Dr Miriam McCarthy Deputy Secretary, Healthcare Policy Group
Dr Sloan Harper Director of Integrated Care, HSC Board
Mr John Farrell Head of Primary Medical Services Branch
Mr Peter McAuley Primary Medical Services Branch.
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The committee agreed to write to the Department for additional information.
3.36 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
3.37 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting and resumed the chair.
Dr Kieran Deeny made a declaration of interest that he was a GP and a member of the Western Local Commissioning Group.
3.48 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
3.56 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt rejoined the meeting.
3.56 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
8. Statutory Rule: SR 2010/83. The Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulation ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee were briefed on the provisions of this statutory rule by Ms Joy Cresswell from Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland.
The Committee considered SR 2010/83. The Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulation ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
The Committee agreed to write to the Food Standards Agency regarding the timescale for the submission of this Statutory Rule.
4.12 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.
9. Statutory Rule: SR2010/98. The Healthy Start Scheme and Day Care Food Scheme (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered SR2010/98. The Healthy Start Scheme and Day Care Food Scheme (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
10. Proposed Statutory Rule
The Committee considered the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
11. Assembly Research Briefing on Historical Child Abuse
The Committee was briefed by Assembly Research on the Republic of Ireland Commission into child abuse and the systematic review undertaken by the Scottish Executive.
4.33 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
4.36 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.
12. Correspondence.
The Committee noted correspondence from the MS Society seeking a meeting with the Committee on physiotherapy services and agreed to invite the group to an informal lunchtime meeting.
The Committee noted correspondence from Beth Gibb Associates Training & Consultancy requesting an opportunity to meet with the Committee and agreed that they should be invited to the next Committee Long Gallery Event.
The Committee noted correspondence from Mindwise seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to an informal lunchtime meeting.
13. Any other business
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister regarding the treatment of Billy Caldwell.
4.58 p.m. The meeting moved to closed session.
14. Committee Discussion on Historical Child Abuse
The Committee discussed Historical Child Abuse and agreed to write to the Executive regarding this matter.
15. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 22 nd April 2010 at 2.00pm in room 30 , Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.38 p.m.
Signed: ______________________________
Chairperson
Date: ________________________________