COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mr Paul Girvan MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Apologies:
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
In Attendance:
Dr Kathryn Bell (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Craig Mealey (Clerical Officer)
Mr Colin Pidgeon (Assembly Research)
The meeting commenced at 2.51 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business.
The Committee agreed retrospectively to hold a joint committee meeting with the Committee for Justice on the morning of Thursday 23 rd September. Members noted that the joint Committee had agreed to meet again on Thursday 30 th September 2010.
The Committee agreed to postpone a briefing on a proposed autism bill and a briefing on adoption scheduled for Thursday 30th September 2010.
2.54 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill joined the meeting.
2.54 p.m. Mrs Mickey Brady joined the meeting.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2010.
The minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2010 were agreed.
4. Matters arising.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the care provided for Billy Caldwell.
The Committee noted a briefing paper prepared by Assembly Research about the Respite Care Services and Speech & Language Services available across the Health & Social care Trusts and agreed to forward this to Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA who originally raised the issue.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Royal College of Psychiatrists regarding the Donagh abuse case.
5. Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland Bill NIA 25/09.
The Committee noted a briefing paper from the National Deaf Children’s Society and agreed this should be included in the appendices to the Committee report on the Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland Bill NIA 25/09.
Evidence session with the Belfast and Southern Health & Social Care Trusts
The Committee took evidence from:
Mr Paul Morgan Assistant Director of Family Support & Safeguarding, Southern Health & Social Care Trust
Mr David Douglas Head of Safeguarding, Southern Health & Social Care Trust
Ms Lesley Walker Co-Director, Family and Childcare, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Mr John Growcott Co-Director, Social Work/Social Care Governance, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Ms Olive McLeod Co-Director, Governance, Patient Safety, and Performance, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.34 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
3.37 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
3.40 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
Evidence session with the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers
The Committee took evidence from:
Ms Carolyn Ewart Manager, Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers
Dr John Devaney Member, Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers
Ms Jacqui McGarvey Member, Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
4.13 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.
6. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered S R 2010/289: Voluntary Adoption Agencies 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.
The Committee considered SR 2010/290: The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (Registration) (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.
The Committee considered SR 2010/291: The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (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.
7. Research briefing on options available to scrutinise Budget 2010.
The Committee were briefed by Assembly Research on options to scrutinise the budget for 2010.
4.23 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
Dr Kieran Deeny made a declaration of interest that he was a member of the Western Local Commissioning Group
A motion was proposed by Dr Kieran Deeny:
That this Committee employ a special advisor on Budget 2010
The Committee divided: Ayes 5; Noes 3; Abstentions 0
AYES
Dr Kieran Deeny
Mr Alex Easton
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Paul Girvan
Mr Jim Wells
NOES
Mr Mickey Brady
Mrs Michelle O’Neill
Mr John McCallister
The motion was agreed by the Committee.
The Committee agreed to set up a sub Committee to consider the appointment process.
4.50 p.m. Mr Paul Girvan left the meeting.
4.52 p.m. Mr Paul Girvan rejoined the meeting.
4.55 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
4.57 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
8. Correspondence .
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister inviting the Chair to sit on the Department’s Partnership Forum and agreed that it would not be appropriate for the Committee to be represented on the Forum
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the European Commission’s Communication on the Rights of the Child.
The Committee noted correspondence from Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke and that an informal meeting had been rescheduled for 9 December.
The Committee noted a letter from the Pharmaceutical Contractors Committee NI and the Ulster Chemists’ Association regarding the Minor Ailments Scheme and agreed to write to the Minister supporting the scheme.
The Committee noted a letter from the British Dental Association Northern Ireland seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to the next reception for health related groups.
The Committee noted a letter from Lakeland Community Care regarding the policy position of the Department and the Western Trust regarding the charitable and voluntary sector involvement in care and agreed to write to the Department regarding this matter.
The Committee noted a letter from the Positive Futures Lobby Group seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to write to the group advising that it has written to the Department regarding the issues they have raised.
The Committee noted an invitation from the Engineering Policy Group Northern Ireland (EPGNI) to a presentation regarding the draft STEM strategy in Queen’s University.
The Committee noted correspondence from Beth Gibb Associates seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to the next reception for health related groups.
The Committee noted a copy of the eighteenth report on the Development of Services for People with a Learning Disability or Mental Illness in Northern Ireland pursuant to section 10 of the Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1989.
9. Any Other Business
No other business was discussed
14. Date, time and place of the next meeting.
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 30th September 2010 at 2.00 p.m. in room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.13 p.m.
Chairperson
16 Sept 10 / Menu
