1. Minutes of the Last Two Meetings
2. Matters Arising
3. Health and Personal Social Services Bill (NIA Bill 3/00): Committee Stage
4. Draft Report on Residential and Secure Accomodation for Children in Northern Ireland
5. AOB
6. Date and Time of Next Meeting

Present: Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms P Armitage
Mr P Berry
Rev. R Coulter
Ms C Hanna
Mr A McFarland
Ms S Ramsey

Apologies: Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Mr J Kelly
Ms M McWilliams
Mrs I Robinson

In Attendance: Mr G Martin (Committee Clerk)
Mr D Harkin (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs V Artt (Executive Support)
Mrs K McFerran (Administrative Support)

The Deputy Chairman took the Chair at 2.05 pm.

The minutes of the meetings of 14 and 15 November 2000 were agreed.

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1. The Clerk is arranging for a meeting in January 2000 with the Directors of Social Services of the four Boards to discuss current issues, including those relating to the scope for the freeing up of beds within the hospital system by transferring hospital in-patients to private residential care/nursing homes where appropriate.

2. Dr Miriam McCarthy, the Chairperson of the Steering Group behind the report 'Myths & Reality' on teenage pregnancy and parenthood, will give a presentation on the report's main issues to the Committee during January 2001.

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As the Clauses to be considered fell within the separate remits of each of three teams of Departmental Officials, the Deputy Chairman advised members that the corresponding groups of Clauses would be examined in turn in order to facilitate the Committee's consideration of the Bill.

Part III - Clauses 43, 44(2), 50, 52 and 54

Departmental Officials: Mr John McGrath
Mr Hugh Farren
Ms Margaret Rose McNaughton

The Deputy Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 2.12 pm. The Committee considered each Clause in turn, following a background briefing by Mr McGrath. The entire proceedings are recorded in verbatim transcripts of evidence.

The Committee deliberated on the Health and Personal Social Services Bill.

Resolved:

That Clauses 43, 44(2) and 52 stand part of the Bill.

The Committee sought further clarification from the Department on Clause 50 as follows:

• Whether the wording in relation to the three sets of persons referred to could be made more straightforward.

• Whether consideration has been given to the rights of the person about whom the Commissioner would be disclosing information, and whether that person would have the right of appeal.

The Committee sought further clarification on Clause 54 as follows:

• Whether the Health and Social Services Councils are included in this or an earlier piece of legislation.

• Whether the Department will be issuing a Directive to cover the arrangements for public meetings, including individuals' speaking rights. The Committee also wishes to be consulted on the Directive before its issue.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their helpful input, and they left the meeting at 3.05 pm.

Part III - Clauses 44(1), 45, 46, 47 and 48

Departmental Officials: Mr Andrew Hamilton
Ms Deborah McNeilly
Mr Neville Jones

The Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 3.06 pm. The Committee considered each Clause in turn, following a background briefing from Mr Hamilton. The entire proceedings are recorded in verbatim transcripts of evidence.

Resolved:

That Clauses 44(1), 45, 46, 47 and 48 stand part of the Bill.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their helpful input, and they left the meeting at 3.42 pm.

Part III - Clauses 57 to 61 (inclusive)

Departmental Officials: Mr Robin MacRory
Mr Campbell Taylor

The Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 3.52 pm. The Committee considered each Clause in turn, following a background briefing by Mr Macrory. The entire proceedings are recorded in verbatim minutes of evidence.

That Clauses 57 to 61 inclusive stand part of the Bill.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their helpful input, and they left the meeting at 3.58 pm.

The Committee will reconsider all of the Bill's outstanding Clauses at its meeting scheduled for 6 December, at which the relevant Departmental Officials will be requested to re-attend.

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The Committee deliberated.

Draft Report (Inquiry into Residential and Secure Accommodation for Children in Northern Ireland), proposed by the Deputy Chairman, brought up and read.

Ordered: That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.

Paragraphs 1 to 202, as amended, read and agreed to.

Resolved: That the Report be the First Report of the Committee to the Assembly.

That the Report should include the written and oral evidence from the following sets of witnesses:

• The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (oral evidence only)

• The Young People's Centre

• Child Care Northern Ireland

• NI Branch of the British Association of Social Workers

• Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance

Resolved: That the Report be printed.

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1. Agreed: In response to a written request from the Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee for a date by which this Committee would be in a position to comment on the Family Law Bill, the Clerk will advise that this Committee will input by the deadline in the motion for an extension period to be put down by the Committee for Finance and Personnel.

2. Mr Jim Jamison of the Centre for Cross-Border Studies (who is also an adviser to the Acute Hospitals Review Group) will be meeting informally with the Chairman in his Room at 12.30 on Wednesday, 29 November to explain the role of the Centre. All members are welcome to attend.

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The Committee will next meet at 2.00 pm on Wednesday, 29 November 2000 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

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The meeting ended at 3.50 pm.

MR T GALLAGHER
Committee Deputy Chairman
November 2000

21 November 2000 / Menu / 29 November 2000