Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 17 JUNE 2010
SEMINAR ROOM, CANCER RESEARCH UNIT, QUEENS UNIVERSITY BELFAST

Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA 
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

In Attendance: 
Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer)
Mr Craig Mealey (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: 
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.11 p.m. in public session

1. Apologies

Apologies as above

2. Chairperson’s Business.

The Chairperson thanked Queens University Belfast and the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust for hosting the Committee’s visit to the Cancer Research Unit.

The Chairperson briefed the Committee on a meeting he had with the Minister regarding the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service internal review.

The Chairperson reminded members that the Committee would be holding a reception for Healthcare related groups on Tuesday 29 th June 2010.

Members agreed that the Chairperson would represent the Committee at an event organised by the Northern Ireland Confederation of Social Services on 1 st July 2010.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 June 2010.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 June 2010 was agreed.

2.15 p.m. Mr Alex Easton joined the meeting.

4. Matters arising.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the ICAN Centre in Ballynahinch. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for further information and to forward the response to the Committee for Education.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding his Plans & Priorities for the next year.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing details of recurrent & non recurrent funding for each trust for 2007/08.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing the Terms of Reference for the UK Pandemic Influenza Response Review. The Committee agreed to request a written briefing on the report when it becomes available and to copy the response to Mr Conall McDevitt MLA.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing details of the responses the Department received to its consultation on the Northern Ireland Strategy for Nursing & Midwifery 2010 – 2015. The Committee agreed to write to the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives seeking their views on the Strategy. The Committee agreed to invite the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives to an informal lunchtime briefing.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Fire & Rescue Service (2006 Order) (Commencement No 2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010. The Fire & Rescue Service has agreed to devolve full enforcement functions of the Order to Councils in relation to licensed premises. The Committee agreed to copy the response to Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding the review of DHSSPS public appointment procedures which took place following a decision by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and agreed to write to the Minister for further information.

The Committee noted a letter from the Department regarding the outcome of the review of Supplement for Undergraduate Medical and Dental Education (SUMDE) and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted the key points of a meeting with Family Group Conferencing and agreed to write to the Department asking it to look at the possibility of extending this method of working to vulnerable adults.

The Committee noted the Examiner of Statutory Rules has considered the Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and is content with the technical aspects of the rules.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding transferring responsibility for the Care Tribunal and the Mental Health Review Tribunal to the Department of Justice and agreed to write to the Committee for Justice regarding its concerns.

2.18 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill joined the meeting.

2.25 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.

2.29 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting .

5. Sunbeds Bill

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

The Committee noted a tabled letter from the Minister regarding the amendments he would make including allowing for either a registration or licensing scheme. The Committee agreed to forward a clause by clause analysis table to the Department for information.

Evidence session with the Sunbeds Association

The Committee took evidence from

Ms Kathy Banks the Sunbed Association

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending. The Committee agreed to write to the Northern Ireland MEP’s regarding the legislation.

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

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

3.22 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.

3.26 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.

3.38 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.

3.40 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.

Evidence session with the Chief Environmental Health Officers Group

The Committee took evidence from

Mr Sean Martin Head of Environmental Health Larne Borough Council

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

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

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

4.24 p.m. Meeting adjourned.

4.35 p.m. Meeting resumed.

6. Safeguarding Board NI

The Committee agreed a Committee work plan, draft public notice and consultation list for the Committee stage of the Safeguarding Board Bill. The Committee agreed to postpone its visit to the Trauma & Orthopaedic facility at Craigavon Area Hospital.

7. The Northern Ireland Health & Social Care Budget

A motion was proposed by Mr Sam Gardiner:

The Committee believes that the Health & Social Care budget in Northern Ireland should be ring fenced with immediate effect.

Amendment number 1 was proposed by Mr Alex Easton:

The Committee believes that the Health and Social Care budget in Northern Ireland should be a priority for the Executive in light of the Conservative cuts.

Amendment number 2 was proposed by Dr Kieran Deeny:

The Committee believes that the Health & Social Care budget in Northern Ireland should be ring fenced if and when the Department for Health, Social Services & Public Safety demonstrate further efficiency savings will be made in removing unnecessary bureaucracy and administration from our National Health Service in Northern Ireland.

Question put, that amendment No 2 be made.

The Committee divided: Ayes 2; Noes 7; Abstentions 1

AYES

Dr Kieran Deeny 
Mr John McCallister

NOES

Mr Thomas Buchanan
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mr Sam Gardiner
Mrs Claire McGill 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill 
Ms Sue Ramsey

ABSTENTIONS

Mr Jim Wells

The motion falls

Question put, that amendment No 1 be made.

The Committee divided: Ayes 6; Noes 2; Abstentions 2

AYES

Mr Thomas Buchanan
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mrs Claire McGill 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill 
Ms Sue Ramsey

NOES

Mr Sam Gardiner
Mr John McCallister

ABSTENTIONS

Mr Jim Wells 
Dr Kieran Deeny

The amendment was agreed by the Committee.

Question: The Committee believes that the Health and Social Care budget in Northern Ireland should be a priority for the Executive in light of the Conservative cuts.

Proposer: Mr Alex Easton

The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 2; Abstentions 1

AYES

Mr Thomas Buchanan
Dr Kieran Deeny 
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mrs Claire McGill 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill 
Ms Sue Ramsey

NOES

Mr Sam Gardiner
Mr John McCallister

ABSTENTIONS

Mr Jim Wells

Question accordingly agreed to.

The Committee agreed to write to the Executive asking them to note the Committee’s position.

8. Correspondence.

The Committee noted correspondence from the ‘Save the Mid’ campaign group regarding the closure of the Accident & Emergency unit at the Mid Ulster Hospital and agreed to invite the Minister and the Chief Executive of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust to give evidence on this matter.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the September 2010 Monitoring Round and the Budget 2010 and agreed to ask the Department to provide a written brief for the Committee meeting on 1st July 2010.

The Committee noted correspondence from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust regarding Modernisation Proposals: Safety, Quality and Sustainability – Modernising Health and Social Care Services in the South Eastern Trust.

The Committee noted an invitation to the launch of Mencap’s ‘Getting it Right Campaign’.

The Committee noted an invitation to a Seminar on Children’s Budgetary .

The Committee noted a letter from the Belfast Taxi Association regarding the tendering process for Taxi Services that involved government contracts and agreed to write to inform the Association that it had not considered this matter and forward the letter to the Public Accounts Committee.

The Committee noted a letter from BMA Northern Ireland regarding Violence against doctors.

The Committee noted copies of publications ‘the Fold Insight Summer Edition 2010’ and ‘the Buttle Bulletin Summer 2010’.

The Committee noted an invitation from the All Party Group on Children and Young People for an event on 30 th June.

The Committee agreed to invite Optometry Association and Sauce for Schools to the next reception for healthcare related groups.

9. Any other business

The Committee agreed to write to the Department about the services available for rare diseases.

The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Participation and Practice of Rights Project to the Department seeking its views on the issues raised regarding the card before you leave scheme.

The Committee agreed to request briefing papers from Assembly Research on the provision of respite care for carers of children with disabilities.

The Committee agreed to request briefing papers from Assembly Research on the delivery of speech and language therapy by health & social care trusts.

The Committee agreed to request briefing papers from Assembly Research on the waiting list for adoption and an overview of adoption procedures in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

10. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 24 th June 2010 at 2.00 pm in room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.45 p.m.