Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 27 JANUARY 2011
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA 
Mr Pól Callaghan MLA 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA 
Mr Paul Girvan MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson) 
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA 
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA

In Attendance: 
Dr Kathryn Bell (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk) 
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor) 
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor) 
Mr Craig Mealey (Clerical Officer) 
Ms Alice McKelvey (Legal Advisor)

The meeting commenced at 11.08 a.m. in closed session.

1. Apologies

There were no apologies.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the recruitment of a Chairperson for the Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland and agreed that it was content with the Department’s approach.

11.09 a.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill joined the meeting.

11.09 a.m. Ms Sue Ramsey joined the meeting.

11.09 a.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.

11.10 a.m. Mr Pól Callaghan joined the meeting.

11.10 a.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.

11.12 a.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.

11.12 a.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.

3. Autism Bill NIA 2/10: Consideration of legal advice

The Committee considered legal advice regarding the Autism Bill NIA 2/10.

11.20 a.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.

11.29 a.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.

11.35 a.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.

11.36 a.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.

11.54 a.m. Mr Paul Girvan left the meeting.

11.57 a.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.

11.57 a.m. Mr Pól Callaghan left the meeting.

11.59 a.m. The meeting moved to public session.

4. Autism Bill NIA 2/10: Informal clause by clause consideration

The Committee noted correspondence from Lord Maginnis.

The Committee noted two FOI requests.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister.

The Committee noted correspondence from Dominic Bradley MLA.

The Committee discussed the Autism Bill.

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

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

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

12.09 p.m. Mr Pól Callaghan rejoined the meeting.

12.55 p.m. Meeting adjourned.

2.10 p.m. Meeting resumed.

5. Chairperson’s Business

The Committee noted an update on swine flu provided by the Public Health Agency and agreed to write to the Agency for further information.

The Committee noted reports from the Health & Social Care Board on an investigation on the Western Trust and an IMAS report on the Royal Children’s Hospital and agreed to discuss these with officials later in the meeting.

2.10 p.m. Mr Mickey Brady joined the meeting.

2.17 p.m. Mr Paul Girvan rejoined the meeting.

2.19 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.

2.28 p.m. Pól Callaghan rejoined the meeting.

6. Budget 2011 – 2015: Committee consideration of response to draft Budget

The Committee discussed the draft Budget and agreed that an interim Committee response should be prepared. The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would approve this on behalf of the Committee.

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

7. Draft Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 20 January 2011

The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 20 January 2011 were agreed.

8. Autism Bill NIA 2/10: clause by clause consideration

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

The Committee noted further correspondence from Mr Dominic Bradley MLA regarding the Bill.

Clause 1 - Amendment to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995

The Committee divided: Ayes 6; Noes 0; Abstentions 3

AYES

Mr Mickey Brady 
Mr Pól Callaghan 
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mr Paul Girvan 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill

ABSTENTIONS

Mr Sam Gardiner
Mr John McCallister
Mr Jim Wells

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendment agreed with the sponsor, put and agreed to.

Clause 2 - Autism strategy

The Committee divided: Ayes 6; Noes 0; Abstentions 3

AYES

Mr Mickey Brady 
Mr Pól Callaghan 
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mr Paul Girvan 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill

ABSTENTIONS

Mr Sam Gardiner
Mr John McCallister
Mr Jim Wells

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

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

Clause 3 - Content of the autism strategy

The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 0; Abstentions 3

AYES

Mr Mickey Brady 
Mr Pól Callaghan 
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mr Paul Girvan 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill 
Ms Sue Ramsey

ABSTENTIONS

Mr Sam Gardiner
Mr John McCallister
Mr Jim Wells

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause subject to the proposed amendment agreed with the sponsor, put and agreed to.

Clause 4 - Interpretation

The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 0; Abstentions 3

AYES

Mr Mickey Brady 
Mr Pól Callaghan 
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mr Paul Girvan 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill 
Ms Sue Ramsey

ABSTENTIONS

Mr Sam Gardiner
Mr John McCallister
Mr Jim Wells

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

Clause 5 - Regulations and orders made under this Act

The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 0; Abstentions 3

AYES

Mr Mickey Brady 
Mr Pól Callaghan 
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mr Paul Girvan 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill 
Ms Sue Ramsey

ABSTENTIONS

Mr Sam Gardiner
Mr John McCallister
Mr Jim Wells

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

Clause 6 - Commencement

The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 0; Abstentions 3

AYES

Mr Mickey Brady 
Mr Pól Callaghan 
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mr Paul Girvan 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill 
Ms Sue Ramsey

ABSTENTIONS

Mr Sam Gardiner
Mr John McCallister
Mr Jim Wells

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

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

Clause 7 - Short title

The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 0; Abstentions 4

AYES

Mr Mickey Brady 
Mr Pól Callaghan 
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mr Paul Girvan 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill 
Ms Sue Ramsey

ABSTENTIONS

Dr Kieran Deeny
Mr Sam Gardiner
Mr John McCallister
Mr Jim Wells

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

Long Title

The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 0; Abstentions 4

AYES

Mr Mickey Brady 
Mr Pól Callaghan 
Mr Alex Easton 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 
Mr Paul Girvan 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA 
Ms Sue Ramsey

ABSTENTIONS

Dr Kieran Deeny
Mr Sam Gardiner
Mr John McCallister
Mr Jim Wells

Question : That the Committee is content with the long title of the Bill , put and agreed to.

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

3.28 p.m. Mr Pól Callaghan left the meeting.

9. Matters arising

The Committee noted a response from the Minister on the Jubilee Maternity Hospital and the Regional Fertility Centre and agreed to forward this to the Infertility Network who raised this matter with the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding items currently available on prescription and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the protection of community care services.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister on the development of the dementia strategy.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister on the meaning of the CE marking on contact lens solution.

The Committee noted responses from the five Health & Social Care Trusts regarding the number of applicants for jobs from EEA countries turned down because of inadequate English language proficiency and agreed to write to the Belfast Trust and Western Trust for further information.

The Committee noted a response from the Clerk to the Committee on Standards and Privileges regarding the Ministerial Code and agreed to write to the Clerk to the Committee on Standards and Privileges for further information. The Committee also agreed to write to Mr Stephen Murtagh who raised this matter with the Committee.

3.39 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.

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

10. Proposed Statutory Rule

The Committee considered the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2011 and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

11. Correspondence

The Committee noted letters from rheumatology consultants and Steve McBride, Arthritis Care Policy Adviser for Scotland and Northern Ireland, seeking a meeting with the Committee regarding biologic therapies for patients with inflammatory arthritis and agreed that the Chair and Deputy Chair would meet with the group.

The Committee noted a letter from Fermanagh District Council regarding the North-South Feasibility Study compiled by the Department of Health and Children and the DHSSPS and agreed to respond to the Council detailing the actions it has taken on this matter and enclosing a copy of the Minister’s response on the issue.

The Committee noted a letter from Moyle District Council regarding the MS Centre in Ballycastle.

The Committee noted a letter from Volunteer Now highlighting the work of volunteers across Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted a letter from Mary Casey seeking a meeting with the Committee regarding carers and respite and agreed write back to Ms Casey thanking her for her interest in the work of the Committee.

The Committee noted a Northern Ireland Audit Office Report ‘Compensation Recovery Unit – Maximising the Recovery of Social Security Benefits and Health Service Costs from Compensators’.

3.46 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.

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

12. Any Other Business

The Committee agreed to write to the Department for information on the control of legal highs.

3.51 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.

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

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

13. Evidence session on Consultation with the Department and HSC Trusts

The Committee took evidence from:

Dr Andrew McCormick Permanent Secretary, DHSSPS

Mr Sean Donaghy Chief Executive, Northern Health & Social Care Trust

Mr Colm Donaghy Chief Executive, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust

Dr Miriam McCarthy Deputy Secretary, DHSSPS

The Committee questioned officials on the following issues:

• Approaches to consultation when modernizing or reorganizing services
• Health & Social Care Board report on governance in the Western Trust
• IMAS report on the Royal Children’s Hospital

The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

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

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

4.19 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.

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

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

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

5.12 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.

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

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

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

5.52 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.

14. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Thursday 3 rd February 2011 at 2.00 p.m. in room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 6.00 p.m.