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

Apologies: Ms P Armitage

In Attendance: Mr G Martin Mrs V Artt

Mr D Harkin Mrs K McFerran

Dr J Hendron took the Chair.

1. Chairperson's Opening Remarks

The Chairperson welcomed members and introduced the Clerk and his staff. He emphasised the need for collective responsibility and confidentiality, as well as the importance of prioritisation, in order to maximise the Committee's effectiveness.

2. Declaration of Interests

Mr Berry is a member of the DUP's health committee.
Ms Carson has no related interests.
Ms Hanna is on a career break from the South and East Belfast HSS Trust, of which her husband is a board member. She is also registered with the UKCC, which is the regulatory body for nurses.
Dr Hendron still retains links with his GP practice but holds on average no more than two surgeries per week.
Mr Gallagher has no related interests.
Mr Kelly has no related interests.
Mr McFarland has no related interests.
Ms McWilliams is a member of the advisory committee to Women's Aid.
Ms Ramsey has no related interests.
Mrs Robinson is the DUP's health spokesperson.

3. Draft Press Release

Agreed: The Clerk will modify the draft press notice to include the Committee's remit and its membership for its immediate release thereafter.

4. Draft Work Programme

Members in turn outlined their priorities, which are summarised in annex A.

Agreed:

i. The Clerk will invite the Departmental Permanent Secretary and his senior officials, including the Chief Medical Officer, to next week's deliberative meeting of the Committee.

ii. The Clerk will invite the Chairman and Chief Fire Officer of the Fire Authority together with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency to the Committee's deliberative session scheduled for 12 January 2000. He will also report to next week's meeting the expected issue date for the Ambulance Service's report, and a suitable date for a meeting with its senior officials will be agreed thereafter.

iii. The Clerk will arrange for the four HSS Boards to meet the Committee, two each on 19 and 26 January respectively.

5. Handling of Primary Legislation

Agreed: The Committee noted that as the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister will be taking the lead on the forthcoming disability rights bill, the Clerk should write to the Clerk of Committees to seek an input for the Committee on this related issue.

6. Handling of Subordinate Legislation

Agreed:

i. While retaining responsibility for examining the policy itself, the Committee is content to delegate the technical scrutiny of Statutory Rules to the Examiner of Statutory Rules, who will report back to the Committee. The Clerk will write to advise the Examiner of the Committee's decision, which accords with the recommendation in annex E to the agenda.

ii. The Clerk will write to the Speaker (who is Chairman of the Assembly Commission) to highlight the Committee's concern that current staffing levels in the office of the Examiner of Statutory Rules will not suffice to meet the tight deadlines for the passage of legislation through the Assembly.

7. AOB

i. Agreed: As a number of Assembly Members have clashing Committee engagements under the current timetable arrangements, the Chairman will take up the matter with the other Committee Chairs.

ii. Agreed: The Committee will normally apply a one-hour time limit to oral evidence sessions, with 10 minutes allotted to witnesses' opening remarks and the remaining time for follow-up questions.

iii. The Committee noted a request from Down District Council for a meeting to discuss the future of Downe Hospital.

iv. The Chairman reminded members to return their contact sheets to the Assistant Clerk, and to advise how they would like to receive their Committee papers in future.

8. Date of next meeting

The Committee will meet next at 2.00 PM on Wednesday December 15 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

DR J HENDRON

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

Menu / 15 December 1999