Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 17 JANUARY 2008
Room 135, Parliament Buildings

Present: 
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA 
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA 
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

In Attendance: 
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs Noelle Bourke (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Alister Strain (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Rev Robert Coulter MLA 
Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

The meeting commenced at 2.36 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as listed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson thanked the Deputy Chairperson for Chairing the Committee meeting on 17 January 2008 in Everton Complex.

The Chairperson reminded Members that the Committee Motion on Smoke Alarms was on the Order Paper for debate on Monday 21 January.

Members agreed to invite the Glencregagh Residents Association to a lunchtime meeting with the Committee.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 10 January 2008

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2008were agreed.

4. Matters arising

Members noted a response from the Minister of Education about Middletown Centre for Autism.

Members noted a response from the Minister about the funding of Prison Healthcare and agreed to write to the Minister expressing disappointment with the response.

The Committee agreed to ask the Clerk to investigate procedures for enabling Committee Members to carry out unannounced checks on hospital conditions.

5. Evidence session with Professor John Appleby, Chief Economist, Kings und. Fund.

Following a presentation by Professor Appleby a questions and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked Professor Appleby for attending.

3.37 p.m. Ms Sue Ramseyleft the meeting. 
3.59 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey returned to the meeting. 
4.07 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilínleft the meeting. 
4.07 pm. Mr TommyGallagherleft the meeting. 
4.12 p.m. Mr TommyGallagher returned to the meeting. 
4.13 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilínreturned to the meeting. 
4.14 pm. Dr Kieran Deenyleft the meeting.

6. Evidence Session with the Strategic Investment Board

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
David Gavaghan Chief Executive, SIB
John Cole Chief Executive, Health Estates
Leo McKenna Strategic Adviser on Health, SIB
Dr Jim Livingstone DHSSPS

A questions and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to meet Members who have an interest in the Enniskillen Hospital Project to provide a more detailed briefing and to provide the Committee with details of Consultants employed to work on the project. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

5.21 pm. Mr John McCalisterleft the meeting. 
5.23 pm. Mr Thomas Buchananleft the meeting.

7. Departmental brief on Agenda for Change

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Mr David Bingham Director of Human Resources, DHSSPS
Mrs Lorraine Owens Human Resource Directorate, DHSSPS

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

5.32 p.m. Ms Sue Ramseyleft the meeting. 
5.32 pm. Mr Thomas Buchananreturned to the meeting.

8. Proposed Statutory Rules from the Food Standards Agency

Members were briefed by Mr Jim Ross, Head of Meat Hygiene and Meat Imports Unit and Mervyn Briggs FSANI Consumer Choice and Food Standards on proposals for Statutory Rules.

Statutory Rule 2007/498: The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007

The Committee considered the content of SR 2007/498. Question put and agreed: The Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has considered Statutory Rule 2007/498: The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and has no objection to the Rule subject to the examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects.

Statutory Rule 2007/497: The Fishery Products (Official Controls Charges) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007

The Committee considered the content of SR 2007/497. Question put and agreed: The Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has considered Statutory Rule 2007/497: The Fishery Products (Official Controls Charges) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and has no objection to the Rule subject to the examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects.

Statutory Rule 2007/496: The Meat (Official Controls Charges) (No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland 2007

The Committee considered the content of SR 2007/496. Question put and agreed: The Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has considered Statutory Rule 2007/496 The Meat (Official Controls Charges) (No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and has no objection to the Rule subject to a resolution of any concerns expressed by Examiner of Statutory Rules being addressed.

5.37 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey returned to the meeting. 
5.47 pm. Mr TommyGallagherleft the meeting. 
5.51 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hannaleft the meeting. 
5.58 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hannareturned to the meeting.

9. Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Releases

Members noted an advance copy of the Equality, Good Relations and Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan sent by the Minister.

A letter from Gallaher Ltd about the DHSSPS consultation regarding the minimum age of sales for tobacco products was received. As the Committee will be returning to this issue Members agreed to note the correspondence at this point.

Member agreed to forward a letter from Dr Benedict Glover about mobile breast screening units to the Northern Health and Social Services Board for a response.

Members noted a letter from Mr Roy Craig about the closure of Inver House, Larne and agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response.

10. Any other business

The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Social Development to the Minister.

The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and investment to the Minister.

Members agreed to write to the Minister about Medical Staff wearing uniforms outside work, the provision of changing facilities and for an update on the introduction of single sex hospital wards.

Members agreed an Outline Inquiry plan for the Suicide Inquiry. This includes a proposed visit to Dublin and the completion of oral evidence by Easter.

11. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 2 January 2008 at 2.30 p.m. in the Lecture Theatre, Fern House, Antrim Area Hospital & will be preceded by Committee visit to Holywell Hospital, Antrim.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 6.04 p.m.