Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2007/2008

Date: 24 January 2008

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 24 JANUARY 2008
Lecture Theatre, Fern House, Antrim Area Hospital

Present: 
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Rev Robert Coulter MLA 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA 
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA 
Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

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:
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.30 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as listed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson referred to the earlier visit to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and expressed her thanks to the Trust for accommodating the visit and for the use of the lecture theatre in Fern house to facilitate the Committee meeting.

The Chairperson noted the Northern Trust’s presentation on C.difficile and agreed to invite Departmental Officials to appear before the Committee next week to brief Members on the measures being taken by the Department to deal with Hospital Acquired Infections.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 17 January 2008

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2008were agreed.

4. Matters arising

Members noted the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules and agreed that the Committee had no objection to the following Statutory Rules:

  • Statutory Rule 2007/498: The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
  • Statutory Rule 2007/497: The Fishery Products (Official Controls Charges) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
  • Statutory Rule 2007/496: The Meat (Official Controls Charges) (No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland 2007

Members noted a supplementary note from the Northern Ireland Prison Service to the Ad Hoc Committee on the Draft Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2007 on the funding arrangements for the transfer of prison healthcare

Members noted a summary document from the Department clarifying the extra funding for Health in the budget.

5. Committee Stage of the Public health (Amendment) Bill

The following witnesses attended:

Andrew Elliott Director of Population Health Directorate

Seamus Camplisson Health Protection Branch

The Chairperson referred the members to a clause by clause briefing paper provided by the Department explaining the purpose of each clause, along with a copy of responses received from relevant bodies.

Clause 1 (Regulations for control of certain diseases.)

Question That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted, put and agreed to.

Clause 2 (Short Title)

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted, put and agreed to.

The Committee agreed that a report on the Committee Stage of the Public Health (Amendment) Bill should be drafted for consideration at a later date.

6. Evidence Session Alpha 5 Air Ambulance

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:

Jerry Carr Alpha 5 Air ambulance

Mark Sellers Alpha 5 Air ambulance

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

3.42 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallaher left the meeting. 
3.46 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallaher rejoined the meeting

7. Proposed Statutory Rule from the Food Standards Agency

Members were briefed by Maria Jennings, Head of Consumer Choice and Food Standards Division, FSA on a judicial review of Statutory Rule SR 2007/506 the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007. On the 17 January 2008 a Judge in the High Court in Northern Ireland granted a stay on the operation of the regulations pending the outcome of a Judicial Review. Members agreed to defer consideration of this Statutory Rule pending the outcome of the judicial review process.

8. Proposals for Statutory Rules

Members were briefed by Mr Bryan Bailie, Ms Neelia Lloyd and Mr Stephen Popplestone from the Department on proposals for Statutory Rules.

Members agreed that the Department proceeds to prepare the relevant Statutory Rules for:

The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

The Health and Social Services Trusts (Original Capital) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

9. Consultation on Northern Ireland Clinical Excellence Awards

Members noted a copy of the Departments consultation paper on the Northern Ireland Clinical Excellence Awards

10. Minimum Standards for Regulated Care Services

Members noted copies of new minimum standards for nursing and residential care homes.

11. Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Releases

The Committee agreed that the Inter Church Addiction Project should be added to the list of organisations requesting a meeting with the Committee.

The Committee noted correspondence from Hugh O’Donnell, a nurse lecturer, about a review of pre-registration nurse education programmes in the UK being undertaken by the Nursing & Midwifery Council. Members agreed to invite Mr O’Donnell and Departmental officials to brief the Committee in more detail.

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Ray Hamilton regarding the lack of facilities for disabled adults in the Newry & Mourne area and agreed to forward this to the Southern Trust for a response.

The Committee agreed that the Joint Epilepsy Council should be added to the list of organisations requesting a meeting with the Committee.

Members noted an invitation from the Royal College of General Practitioners to the launch of their ‘Patients in Practice’ group.

12. Any other business

Members agreed to write to the Minister for an update on the provision of Health Service dentists in Northern Ireland.

Members agreed to write to the Western Trust for a brief on dialysis services in the area.

Members noted outline plans for the Committee visit to Dublin and agreed arrangements for travel and accommodation.

13. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 31 January 2008 at 2.30 p.m. in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 6.04 p.m.

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