Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Thursday, 11 March 2010
Room 30, Parliament Buildings

Present:
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA 
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Mr Conall McDevitt MLA 
Mrs Claire McGill MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA

In Attendance:
Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson) 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.01 pm in public session .

1. Apologies

Apologies as above

2. Nomination of Acting Chairperson

As apologies had been received from the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, the Clerk called for nominations for a Chairperson for the meeting . Mr Sam Gardiner proposed that Mr Alex Easton act as Chairperson for this meeting. Mr Thomas Buchanan seconded this and the nomination was accepted.

2.03 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly joined the meeting.

3. Chairperson’s Business.

The Committee noted that the RQIA was completing work on General Practitioner out-of-hours services and agreed that the Patient Client Council would not give evidence on this subject at the Committee meeting on 25 th March 2010.

4. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 4 March 2010.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2010 were agreed.

5. Matters arising.

The Committee agreed to write to the Health & Social Care Trusts regarding transport to allow disabled patients access to services.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister for Finance and Personnel about the basis of expenditure savings set out for the Department in the review of 2010-11 spending plans.

The Committee noted the report of Examiner of Statutory Rules.

The Committee noted a consultation document from the All Party Assembly Group on Autism (APAGA) regarding the Proposed Autism Bill and agreed not to provide a Committee response to the consultation at this stage and to ask APAGA to provide the Committee with the results of the consultation.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister on the proposed Adoption & Children Bill and agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister about this matter.

The Committee noted a response from the Health & Social Care Board about work being carried out to compare information on standardised mortality rates between hospitals.

The Committee noted that the BMA would be unable to attend an informal lunchtime meeting on 18 th March or 25 th March and agreed to invite them to an informal meeting in June 2010.

6. Departmental response to the ‘General Report on the Health and Social Care Sector in Northern Ireland’.

The Committee took evidence from

Mr Sean Donaghy Under Secretary, Resources & Performance Management

Mr Dean Sullivan Director of Planning

Mr Jim Livingstone Director of Safety, Quality & Standards

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

The Committee agreed to write to the Public Accounts Committee regarding this matter.

3.00 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan left the meeting.

3.03p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.

7. Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland 
Evidence session with the Police Service for Northern Ireland

The Committee took evidence from

Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr Police Service for Northern Ireland

Superintendent Alister Wallace Police Service for Northern Ireland

Inspector Anne Marks Police Service for Northern Ireland

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

3.07 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill rejoined the meeting.

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

3.23 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan rejoined the meeting.

8. Statutory Rule: SR 2010/54. The Fish Labelling Regulations (NI) 2010

The Committee considered SR 2010/54. The Fish Labelling 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.

9. Proposed Statutory Rule

The Committee were briefed on the Fire and Rescue Services (2006 Order) (Commencement No 2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 by Ms Christine McGuire and Ms Heather Robinson from the Department. The Committee agreed not to support the proposed Statutory Rule and to write to the Minister expressing its concerns about this proposed Statutory Rule.

Mrs Dolores Kelly made a declaration of interest that she was a local councillor.

Mrs Claire McGill made a declaration of interest that she was a local councillor.

Mr Sam Gardiner made a declaration of interest that he was a local councillor.

Mr Alex Easton made a declaration of interest that he was a local councillor.

Mr Thomas Buchanan made a declaration of interest that he was a local councillor.

The Committee considered the Healthy Start Scheme and Day Care Food Scheme (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

The Committee considered the Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

Mr John McCallister made a declaration of interest that he is a shareholder in a food processing company

10. Correspondence.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning regarding its inquiry into young people aged sixteen to twenty four not in education, employment or training and agreed to forward this to the Minister.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding 10-day Prompt Payment Targets and agreed to write to the Department to ask if the Health & Social Care organisations meet the Prompt Payment Target.

The Committee noted copies of correspondence send to the Minister for Finance and Personnel from Children in Northern Ireland, Action for Children and the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Services regarding the Department of Finance and Personnel consultation on the draft Expenditure Plans 2010-11.

The Committee noted information about an ICT in Health Seminar being on Thursday 22 April 2010.

The Committee noted a letter from Real Fathers for Justice seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to the next reception for health related groups.

11. Any other business

The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Education regarding institutional child abuse.

12. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 18 th March 2010 at 2.00pm in room 30 , Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.20 p.m.