Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 11 June 2009
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Present:
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk) 
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr David Irvine (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson) 
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA 
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.03 pm in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the chair.

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Deputy Chairperson informed the Committee that Members had a joint briefing with the Education Committee from Early Years on the World Forum on Early Care & Education being held in Belfast on 16 – 19 June 2009 and that a report on the briefing would be prepared for the next Committee meeting.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 28 May 2009.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2009 were agreed.

4. Matters arising.

The Committee noted responses from the Minister and the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust about inconsistencies that have arisen due to agenda for change.

The Committee noted a letter from Western Trust about the cost of agency staff.

The Committee noted Correspondence from the Diary Council about the Committee’s inquiry into obesity and agreed to invite the council to make a written submission to the inquiry.

The Committee noted copies of articles referred to by Dr Lynch during an evidence session on obesity at the last Committee meeting.

The Committee noted a copy of an incident record from the NI Fire & Rescue Service detailing the number of bariatric incidents that the Fire & Rescue Service has attended in the last 5 years.

The Committee noted a letter from Dr Mary Gallagher responding to a reply from the Minister about the regulation of psychologists.

The Committee noted a copy of the results of the pilot training programme for young people leaving care in the South Eastern Health Trust from the Prince’s Trust and agreed to forward this to the other Trusts for information.

The Committee noted letters from Health Service Trade Union Side, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Unite union seeking meetings with the Committee regarding the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review and agreed to invite them to an informal meeting with the Committee.

5. Committee Inquiry into Obesity.

Evidence session with Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association.

Members took evidence from:

Michael Bell Executive Director, Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association

Mr John McCallister made a declaration of interest that he was a shareholder in a food processing company which may be a member of the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association

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

6. Statutory Rule. SR 2009/188: the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme and Injury Benefits) and Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations Northern Ireland 2009

The Committee considered SR 2009/188: the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme and Injury Benefits) and Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations Northern Ireland 2009 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

7. Statutory Rule. SR 2009/220: The Draft Contaminants in Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee were briefed by

Maria Jennings Deputy Director, Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland

The Committee considered SR 2009/220: The Draft Contaminants in Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

8. Increases to Health Service Sight Test Fees, Domiciliary Visiting Fees, Continuing Education and Training Allowance and the Point of Service Check Fees.

The Committee noted details of determinations which will increase Health Service Sight Test Fees, Domiciliary Visiting Fees, Continuing Education and Training Allowance and the Point of Service Check Fees.

9 Committee Inquiry into Obesity.

Evidence session with officials from the Department of Education

Members took evidence from:

Louise Warde Hunter Department of Education

Alan McMullan Department of Education

Jill Fitzgerald Department of Education

A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

2.51 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting. 
2.51 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting. 
2.54 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting. 
3.35 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting. 
3.37 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting. 
3.37 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan left the meeting.

10. Briefing on the Swine Flu Alert by the Acting Chief Medical Officer

The Committee were briefed on the Swine Flu Alert by:

Dr Liz Mitchell Acting Chief Medical Officer

A question and answer session ensued. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the Acting Chief Medical Officer for attending.

3.43 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan rejoined the meeting.
3.44 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.

11. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.

The Committee noted a letter from Ballymena Borough Council Health Matters Committee raising their concern over a proposed Health and Care Centre in Ballymena and agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response.

The Committee noted a letter from Relate seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to an informal meeting with the Committee. The Committee also agreed that this should be arranged for Tuesday 13 October 2009 .

The Committee noted a copy of a report by the Department on the Development of Services for People with a Learning Disability or Mental Illness in Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted correspondence from a member of Autism NI regarding a project taking place to improve the availability of autism-friendly transport and agreed to forward a copy to the Minister for information.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee asking for a summary of any evidence taken by the Committee in relation to the impact of the economic downturn on businesses and agreed a response.

The Committee noted an invitation from the Child Poverty Alliance to a seminar on Tuesday 16 th June 2009.

The Committee noted an invitation forwarded by the Social Development Committee to a conference ‘A Celebration of Recovery from Addiction’.

The Committee noted a booklet produced by the National Autistic Society NI, outlining the experiences of adults with autism.

The Committee noted a copy of GMC today.

12. Any other business

The Committee agreed to visit the Food Standards Agency on Thursday 18 June 2009.

The Committee noted that the Select Committee on Health and Children in the Dail would be visiting Belfast on Thursday 25 June 2009 and agreed to host a dinner for them.

The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease to the Minister for a response.

3.58 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.

13. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 18 June 2009 at 2.00pm in room 135 , Parliament Buildings .

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.59 p.m.