Present: Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
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

Apologies: Mrs I Robinson

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

Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2.00 pm

1. The Chairman welcomed Mrs Hanna back to the Committee after her recent illness. Mrs Hanna expressed her gratitude to all the members who had visited her and sent best wishes.

2. The Chairman also welcomed Mr Joseph Ruane, a health service management trainee who will be supporting the Committee staff during September.

3. All members were invited to a lunch at 1.00 pm on Tuesday, 12 September in the Private Dining Room, where Prof. Robert Stout of Queen's University's Dept of Geriatric Medicine will provide a briefing paper on the Care of the Elderly.

4. The Chairman advised that in light of the Committee's extensive workload ahead, additional meetings might have to be scheduled. The times will be rotated to take account of members' other Assembly commitments.

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The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Principal Medical Officer Dr Elizabeth Mitchell and Mr Michael Daly of the Department, who spoke to a comprehensive briefing paper on the recent cryptosporidiosis outbreak that had been copied to the Committee.

Members expressed concern about the occurrence of the outbreak in the first instance and the delay in informing the public. The Committee was further alarmed to learn that the probable source of the problem was a septic tank from a private house, and questioned how this could have happened.

1. Agreed: The Officials undertook to provide in writing the following: a professional view on whether new legislation is considered necessary to replace the existing statutory requirements relating to water supply; a consideration of whether the Department ought to have a role in planning permission with special reference to the siting of septic tanks near water supplies; and a copy of the final report from the EHSS Board detailing the underlying reasons for the outbreak.

[The Chairman thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 2.45 pm.]

2. Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue an immediate press release highlighting its concerns and asking the Department and the Water Service to act swiftly to resolve the problem and offer every assistance in the interim to those affected.

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The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

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1. The Department is still compiling its response to the Committee's paper on Targeting Social Need. A reminder has been issued.

2. The Assembly Research Unit is awaiting outstanding replies from two Departments on deprivation indices currently in use. A report for the Committee will be prepared as soon as possible.

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1. Agreed: The Committee agreed to the draft timetable for the inquiry and the proposed list of oral evidence witnesses.

2. Agreed: With regard to the Minister's letter of 31 July responding to the Committee on a number of its queries on children services, the Chairman will write to the Minister on two accounts:

• to seek details and assurances on the proposals for the introduction of parity legislation to cover the checking of the suitability of persons applying to work with children and;

• to ascertain the composition of the Children Matter Task Force, its remit, time period, and whether it will examine costings.

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1. Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft future work programme.

2. Agreed: The Clerk will schedule an additional closed meeting to allow members to apprise themselves of the major issues in relation to the reviews of both acute hospital services and primary care services. The Chairman urged members who had not already done so to familiarise themselves with the 'Fit for the Future: A New Approach' document as a useful starting point for their deliberations.

3. Agreed: The Clerk will commission an advisor to examine the Department's budget proposals in order to help inform the Committee's deliberations. The Clerk will write to the Office of the Permanent Secretary to invite the Minister to attend the Committee meetings on Wednesday, 27 September and Wednesday, 4 October in order to speak to the budget proposals and the position of residential care for children respectively.

The Committee emphasised the importance of receiving a detailed breakdown of the budget figures.

[Mr Kelly left the meeting at 3.45 pm]

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The Committee was concerned about the lack of clarity with regard to how Assembly Members or Committees can initiate legislation, as this is viewed as a key part of the Belfast Agreement.

Agreed: The Chairman will raise the matter at the next liaison meeting of the Committee Chairpersons. The Clerk will also write to the Clerk of the Committee on Procedures with a view to formalising arrangements to facilitate the process.

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The Chairman explained that the two above-named pieces of primary legislation are likely to be referred for Committee Stage in October and November, and that this would necessitate extra meetings to meet the deadlines. The anticipated problem of the Departmental Committees' ability to comply with the 30-day rule has been referred to the Committee on Procedures.

In light of the tight timescales involved, the Clerk highlighted the importance of members' bringing to his early attention any matters they feel warrant further investigation; this will allow time to arrange appropriate research and for the Committee to question expert witnesses before the actual Bill arrives.

The Clerk will circulate a synopsis of the responses to the proposals for the Adoption Bill to the Committee once the deadline for submissions has passed. Full copies of all responses will be available.

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Agreed: In view of the heavy work schedule, the Committee will await the consultation document on the New Strategy for Public Health due at the end of October before making its response.

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1. Some members expressed strong dissatisfaction with the fact that Northern Ireland was being referred to in official Departmental documents as the North of Ireland. The Chairman stated that he was aware of the sensitivities involved and undertook to write to the Minister to advise her of the concerns raised.

2. Mrs Carson announced her resignation from the Committee and thanked the Chairman and members for their time and co-operation. The UUP Chief Whip will advise the Clerk in writing. The Chairman thanked Mrs Carson for her commitment and expressed regret at her departure.

3. Agreed: The Clerk will arrange a buffet lunch with the local media health correspondents for an appropriate date.

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The next meeting will be at 2.00 pm on Wednesday, 13 September 2000 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

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[The meeting ended at 4.25 pm.]

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
September 2000

4 July 2000 / Menu / 13 September 2000