COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Apologies:
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Paul Girvan MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
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)
Dr Janice Thompson (Assembly Research Services)
The meeting commenced at 2.02 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies as above.
2. Chair’s business
The Committee noted the RQIA report on the McDermott case and agreed to return to this matter at its next meeting.
The Committee noted the Criminal Justice Inspectorate report on the McDermott case.
The Committee noted copies of correspondence from the Minister of Justice to the Committee for Justice regarding the McDermott case.
The Committee discussed the DHSSPS budget. A motion was proposed by Mr Sam Gardiner:
This Committee recommends that the health aspect of the DHSSPS budget be protected.
The Committee divided: Ayes 3; Noes 1; Abstentions 1
AYES
Mr Jim Wells
Mr Alex Easton
Mr Sam Gardiner
NOES
Mr Tommy Gallagher
ABSTENTIONS
Mr Mickey Brady
Question accordingly agreed to.
The Committee agreed to write to the Executive asking them to note the Committee’s position.
Members noted that the Committee would take evidence from representatives from the Board, the Belfast & Southern Trusts and the Department on the Management Structures of the Health & Social Care Trusts at its next meeting.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that he would be meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and officials from Kyrgyzstan on Monday 15 November and invited other members to attend.
3. Draft Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 4 th November 2010.
The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 4 th November 2010 were agreed.
4. SBNI Bill NIA 25/09 - Formal consideration of each clause of the Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland Bill.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the Bill.
Clause 1 Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland )
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendments agreed with the Department, put and agreed to.
Clause 2 Objective of the Safeguarding Board )
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted , put and agreed to.
Clause 3 Functions of the Safeguarding Board)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendments agreed with the Department, put and agreed to.
Clause 4 Directions to the Safeguarding Board )
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted , put and agreed to.
Clause 5 Functions of Safeguarding Board – general)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendment agreed with the Department, put and agreed to.
Clause 6 Annual report of Safeguarding Board )
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendment agreed with the Department, put and agreed to.
Clause 7 Committees and sub-committees )
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendments agreed with the Department, put and agreed to.
Clause 8 Functions of committees and sub-committees )
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendment agreed with the Department, put and agreed to.
Clause 9 Annual report of committees )
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendment agreed with the Department, put and agreed to.
Clause 10 Duty to co-operate )
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendments agreed with the Department, put and agreed to.
Clause 11 Supply of information requested by Safeguarding Board)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendments agreed with the Department, put and agreed to.
Clause 12 Arrangements to safeguard and promote welfare of children )
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted , put and agreed to.
Clause 13 Ancillary and transitional provisions etc)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted , put and agreed to.
Clause 14 Regulations)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted , put and agreed to.
Clause 15 Interpretation )
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted , put and agreed to.
Clause 16 Commencement)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted , put and agreed to.
Clause 17 Short title)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted , put and agreed to.
Long title
Question: That the Committee is content with the long title of the Bill , put and agreed to.
5. Matters arising
The Committee noted a response from the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust about changes to Regional Neurology Services and agreed to write to the Trust for further information.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about cuts to GP budgets.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs Janine Murtagh and agreed to copy this to Mr Murtagh who raised the matter with the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the effect of changes to NI Water’s charging policy.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister about the launch of a cross departmental obesity framework for public consultation.
The Committee noted a letter from the Chief Medical Officer regarding a report on the Northern Ireland response to the 2009 Pandemic and agreed to write to the Public Health Agency regarding the vaccination of children in special needs schools.
The Committee noted responses from the Health & Social Care Trusts providing information about the contracts each has with the private and voluntary/community sector.
The Committee noted correspondence from Michelle McIlveen MLA advising the Committee that the HSC Board has published a Strategic Action Plan on Children Missing from Home or Care.
The Committee noted a BBC article on the changes to the powers of NICE and agreed to write to the Department regarding the implications of this decision.
The Committee noted a report on an informal meeting with representatives of the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Nursing.
6. Budget 2010
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Outcome of the UK Spending Review for Budget 2011-15.
The Committee noted that no tenders for the post of specialist advisor on budget had been received. Members noted that Assembly Research Services were preparing briefing papers on this subject. The Committee agreed to explore the option of inviting expert witnesses to give evidence on budget.
The Committee noted that an evidence session with the Department on Budget 2010 has been provisionally scheduled for the meeting on 18 November, dependent on the Executive having met before that date.
7. Assembly Research Briefing on the clinical and language competency of overseas doctors working in the UK.
The Committee was briefed by Dr Janice Thompson from Assembly Research Services on the clinical and language competency of overseas doctors working in the UK .
3.12 p.m. Mrs Mary Bradley joined the meeting.
3.17 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey joined the meeting.
3.23 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
The Committee agreed to write to each Health & Social Care Trust regarding the assessment of language skills
8. Statutory Rule: SR 2010/352. The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered SR 2010/352. The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No. 2) 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.
3.29 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
9. Statutory Rule: SR 2010/355. The Animal Feed Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered SR 2010/355. The Animal Feed 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 Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation), Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department for additional information regarding the statutory rule.
11. Correspondence
The Committee noted correspondence from Advice NI about the criteria for the provision of contact lens solutions on prescription and agreed to write to the Department for further information.
The Committee noted a letter from the Public Health Agency about a Wraparound Stakeholder Forum.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister regarding the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland Investing Activity Report for October 2010.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister regarding the Lifetime Opportunities Monitoring Framework Baseline Report.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister regarding the draft Play and Leisure Implementation Plan and agreed to seek further information from the Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister regarding this.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Northern Catholic Bishops enclosing a copy of the response they sent to the Department on its consultation on ‘Guidance on the Termination of Pregnancy: The Law and Clinical Practice in Northern Ireland’.
The Committee noted a briefing paper from the NSPCC on the UK Government’s Review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme.
The Committee noted a letter from Mr Jim Shannon MP asking the Committee to meet with the National Association of People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) and agreed to invite the group to the Long Gallery reception on 30 November.
The Committee noted a letter from Barnardo’s seeking a meeting with the Committee regarding their paper on protecting the most vulnerable children in a time of public spending and agreed to consider this when the budget timetable is clarified.
The Committee noted a letter from the Northern Ireland’s Children’s Hospice seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to the Long Gallery reception on 30 November.
The Committee noted the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 2010.
12. Any Other Business
The Committee noted that the NI Assembly would be providing assist & safe talk training for Members & staff and agreed to encourage people to participate in this.
13. Date, Time and place of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Thursday 18 th November 2010 at 2 p.m. in room 30, Parliament Buildings
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.45 p.m.
04 Nov 10 / Menu
