Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 31 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 
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

In Attendance: 
Mr Kevin Shiels (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 
Mr John McCallister MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.35 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as listed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson expressed condolences on behalf of the Committee to the Clerk for his family bereavement.

The committee agreed to a request from About Face Media to interview Members on Thursday 28 February 2008.

Members noted that the Chairperson & Deputy Chairperson would be meeting the Minister on Monday 4 February 2008 prior to his announcement to the Assembly on proposals for Health and Social Care reform.

The Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with the Optometry NI. A note of the meeting will issue in due course.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 24 January 2008

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2008were agreed.

4. Matters arising

Members noted a letter from Joyce Cairns correcting evidence given to the Committee.

Members noted a copy of the Presentations given by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust to the Committee on 24 January.

Members noted correspondence from the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority requesting a meeting with the Committee. The Committee agreed to defer this meeting to a later date.

The Committee agreed to invite Departmental Officials to answer questions regarding concerns about the implementation of the Agenda for Change.

5. Departmental Brief on Hospital Acquired Infections

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Dr Liz Mitchell Deputy Chief Medical Officer, DHSSPS 
Mr Martin Bradley Chief Nursing Officer, DHSSPS

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

2.55. p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting

6. Committee Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm

Evidence session with representatives of Action Mental Health, the Samaritans and Aware Defeat Depression

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Anthony Langan Public Affairs Manager, Samaritans
Suzanne Costello Director for Ireland, Samaritans
Colin Loughran Action Mental Health
Sharon Sinclair Chief Executive, Aware Defeat Depression

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

4.05. p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting 
4.12. p.m. Ms Michelle O’Neill left the meeting 
4.22. p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting 
4.27. p.m. Ms Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting 
4.28. p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting

Evidence session on research into Suicide.

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Mr Mike Tomlinson Queens University, Belfast
Mr Iain McGowan University of Ulster

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

5.18. p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan left the meeting 
5.23. p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan rejoined the meeting 
5.21. p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting 
5.24. p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting

7. Consideration of the Draft Report on the Committee Stage of the Public Health (Amendment) Bill.

The Committee considered the Draft Report on the Committee Stage of the
Public Health (Amendment) Bill paragraph by paragraph. The Committee agreed the main body of the report:

Paragraph 1- 13, read and agreed

The Committee agreed that Appendices 1 to 5 be included in the report.

The Committee ordered the Report on the Public Health (Amendment) Bill (NIA 8/07) to be printed.

The Committee agreed that an extract of today’s Minutes of Proceedings should be included in Appendix 1 of the report and were content that the Chairperson agrees the minutes relating to this to allow them to be included in the printed report.

8. Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Releases

The Committee noted a review of the operation of the suicide strategy during its first year carried out by PIPS.

Members noted a letter from Larne Borough Council about the closure of Inver House, Larne and agreed to forward this to the Minister.

Members noted a letter from Arlene Cassidy, CEO, Autism NI (PAPA) seeking support from MP’s for an Early Day Motion.

The Committee noted that the Chairperson had agreed to meet with representatives of CODA on Thursday 7 February 2008. The Chairperson extended the invitation for all Members to attend.

Members noted a letter from Margaret R Hughes about the treatment of Autistic Children in Accident and Emergency.

9. Any other business

The Committee agreed to invite witnesses from the Ulster Hospital to discuss allergies at the next Committee meeting.

Members agreed to write to the Minister about issues raised by the Dental Laboratories Association.

Members noted an update from the Committee Clerk on the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007.

10. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 7 February 2008 at 2.30 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.34 p.m.