CONCURRENT MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE FOR EDUCATION AND COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Dominic Bradley MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr Trevor Lunn MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mr Basil McCrea MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
Mr John O’Dowd MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA
Mr Alastair Ross MLA
Mr Mervyn Storey MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

In Attendance:
Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr John Simmons (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr David Irvine (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA

The meeting commenced at 1.01 pm in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson welcomed members to a concurrent meeting of the Committee for Education and the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety which has been arranged to hear evidence from the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health.

The Committee agreed that the meeting should be held in open session.

The Committee agreed that a transcript of this meeting would be made by Hansard and published on the Assembly website.

The Committee agreed that the joint Committee would meet for a single meeting and that any matters arising from this meeting would be followed up by the relevant Committee.

The Committee agreed that it was content that the minutes of this meeting be cleared by the Chairperson of each committee and published in the normal way.

Mrs Mary Bradley made a declaration of interest that she is a member of the Board in Foyle Down Syndrome Trust.

The Committee agreed a press release for the joint meeting.

1.04 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.

1.05 p.m. Mr Basil McCrea joined the meeting.

3. Presentation by the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health on their report ‘A Flourishing Society’

Members took evidence from:

Gerry Leavey Research Director, Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health

Graham Logan Policy Development Manager, Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

1.12 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna joined the meeting.
1.24 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
1.41 p.m. Mr Dominic Bradley left the meeting.
1.49 p.m. Mr Dominic Bradley rejoined the meeting.

12. Any other business

No other business was discussed.

13. Date, time and place of the next meeting

No further meetings were agreed.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.00 p.m.