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

Apologies: Rev R Coulter
Mrs I Robinson

In Attendance: Mr G Martin (Committee Clerk)
Mr D Harkin (Assistant Clerk)
Ms K McFerran (Executive Support)
Ms C Bloomfield (Administrative Support)

Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2:05 pm.

Private Session

The Chairman reported that he had received a confidential briefing from Dr Maurice Hayes on Monday, 18 June on the main points of the report of the Acute Hospitals Review Group in advance of its release today.

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

The Permanent Secretary has advised that the Minister is available to meet the Committee on Monday, 2 July to discuss the Departmental Budget bids for 2002/03.

4. Subordinate Legislation

i. Agreed: The Committee was content with the Departmental proposal for the following Statutory Rule: Specified Risk Material (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.

ii. Question put and agreed to:

That the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee has considered the following Statutory Rule:

No. 226/01 - Gelatine (Intra-Community Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being satisfied as to its technical correctness, has no objection to the Rule.

The Clerk will check the position in relation to the manufacture of gelatine in the Republic of Ireland.

5. Departmental Response to Equality Scheme

Ms Janice Thompson, Assembly Researcher, gave a brief presentation on the paper she had prepared for the Committee in response to the second stage Departmental consultation document, Equality Implications of HSSPS Policies.

Agreed: The Committee was content with the above draft response, which the Clerk will forward to the Department.

6. Report of the Acute Hospitals Review Group

Agreed: The Committee deferred consideration of the report until the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 27 June 2001.

7. AOB

i. Agreed: The Clerk will invite Mr Ciaran O'Neill of the UUJ to attend the Committee meeting on Wednesday, 27 June to brief members on his paper tracing the flow of resources from the Department through the Eastern HSS Board's mental health care system. Depending on the Committee's approval of the report, the Clerk will release it to the Comptroller and Auditor General (NI) for information purposes.

ii. Members were advised that the report of the Committee of the Centre in respect of the role and remit of the Commissioner for Children is to be debated in the Assembly on Tuesday, 26 June 2001.

iii. The Chairman urged members, where possible, to attend the launch of the cancer prevention, detection, treatment and care programme by the New Opportunities Fund in the Long Gallery on Tuesday, 3 July at 12:00 noon. An announcement of the successful projects in Northern Ireland that will receive over £6m under this programme will be made at the event.

iv. The Chairman drew members' attention to the draft programme for a seminar for Assembly Members and staff on government finance to be delivered on 6 and 12 September 2001, which had been copied to members.

8. Date and Time of the Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, 27 June 2001 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting ended at 2:40 pm.

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
June 2001

Footnote: Following the meeting, the Committee undertook a two-part visit of Musgrave Park Hospital. It first had a briefing from Mr Ian Mawhinney, Clinical Director, and Professors James Nixon and David Marsh on the current problems in relation to trauma and orthopaedic surgery provision on site. The Committee additionally met with Consultant Rheumatologists Dr Aubrey Bell, Dr Michael Finch and Dr Madeline Rooney, and had an opportunity to meet with patients and staff on a ward to discuss rheumatology issues, particularly in relation to the benefits of treatment with the drugs Enbrel and Remicade.

13 June 2001 / Menu