Present: Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Ms P Armitage
Mr P Berry
Mrs J Carson
Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms C Hanna
Mr J Kelly
Mr A McFarland
Ms M McWilliams
Ms S Ramsey
Mrs I Robinson

In Attendance: Mr G Martin Mr D Harkin
Mrs V Artt Mrs K McFerran

Dr J Hendron took the Chair.

1. The Chairman apologised for any embarrassment that he might have caused the Committee in relation to the events surrounding the recent decision on regional maternity provision. Lessons have been learnt and the Chairman does not foresee such problems arising again.

2. The Committee's attention was drawn to a letter that Mrs Carson had written to the Chairman expressing concern that a recent Committee meeting had lasted more than six hours involving three sets of witnesses. She requested that careful consideration be given in future to the timetable for meetings. The Chair accepted fully the concerns raised but pointed out that the Committee had in fact made a conscious decision to have an extended meeting on the day in question rather than split it into two separate sessions. This "marathon" meeting (to deal with the urgent matter of maternity provision) was seen as a one-off and future sessions will be restricted to take account of the concerns raised. On a related matter, Members also agreed to keep their questions to witnesses focused and to the point.

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

1. The Business Committee will decide which Department will have responsibility for scrutinising the Equality Disability Bill.

2. The Clerk has written to the First and deputy First Minister's Office to register concern over the appointment of the Chairman of the Food Safety Board.

3. The Clerk has written to the Business Office regarding its refusal to accept a food safety-related question to the Health Minster.

4. Departmental Officials have been invited to attend the Committee meeting scheduled for 9 February to speak on the Children's Order and children in care.

5. The Clerk has identified an independent expert on health budgets and a paper has been circulated to Members.

6. The Clerk has been informed that pay negotiations are ongoing in relation to hospital porters' pay at Altnagelvin Hospital.

7. The Executive affirmed the priority given to the NI Drugs Strategy at its meeting on 1 February and was satisfied that there was no delay in dealing with the additional funding for work in this area. An announcement on allocations will be made in February. Members will receive at today's meeting copies of the Executive's press statement that has just been released.

8. The Committee reiterated its concern that it be furnished with copies of press statements/reports at the time of their issue.

Panel Members: The Minister, Ms Bairbre de Brún
Mr Clive Gowdy, Permanent Secretary
Dr Henrietta Campbell, Chief Medical Officer
Mr Paul Simpson, Deputy Secretary

Panel Members: Mrs Gillian Shaw, Chair Down Lisburn HSS Trust
Mr Tom Frawley, General Manager, Western HSS Board
Mr Harry McGuigan, Chair, United Hospitals HSS Trust
Mr Hugh Mills, Chief Executive, Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust

1. Departmental Officials will attend the meeting scheduled for Wednesday 9 February to speak to the NI Children Order and children in residential care.

2. The NHSS Board will attend the meeting scheduled for Wednesday 16 February.

3. The Committee will deliberate its future work programme on Wednesday 23 February.

4. The Chairman drew the Committee's attention to the Tripartite Research Conference on Saturday 12 February at UU Jordanstown. Papers are available for any Members wishing to attend.

5. The Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone has issued an invitation to the Committee to its conference in the Navan Centre on Friday 11 February. The Clerk will copy the programme to Members.

6. Agreed: As a follow-up to the concept of Healthy Living Centres and HAZs, which attracted considerable Committee interest, the Clerk will obtain more information on the New Opportunities Fund and its objectives.

7. Agreed: The Clerk will write to the Department seeking answers to the independent expert's questions on its paper on budget proposals. The Clerk will also request a detailed breakdown from the Department of the five blocks of expenditure. For the purposes of making comparisons, the Public Expenditure and Priorities Document for NI published each March by DFP gives considerable detail on expenditure breakdowns for the previous year. This document is available in the Assembly Library and on the Internet.

8. Agreed: The Committee is content with the independent expert's paper on the budget proposals and approves the fee. The Clerk will also write to express the Committee's appreciation for the quality of the report produced at short notice.

9. The Clerk advised that the Ambulance Service report will be launched at 3.00 PM on Wednesday 9 February at St Patrick's Trian, Armagh. Members will receive copies of the report at the Committee meeting scheduled for the same day.

The Committee will meet next at 2.00 PM on Wednesday 9 February in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

26 January 2000 / Menu /09 February 2000