Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 09 DECEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

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

Apologies:
Mr Pól Callaghan MLA 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Paul Girvan MLA

In Attendance: 
Dr Kathryn Bell (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk) 
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor) 
Mr Craig Mealey (Clerical Officer) 
Mr Colin Pigeon (Assembly Research)

The meeting commenced at 2.14 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

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

2. Chair’s business

The Committee noted a letter from Mr Hugh Cullen about payments being made to trade staff by Trusts and agreed to write to the Health & Social Care Board about this matter.

The Committee noted that a meeting with the Donagh victims and survivors scheduled for Thursday 16 th December had been postponed until the New Year.

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

3. Draft Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 2 nd December 2010

The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 2 nd December 2010 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

The Committee noted a response from the Health & Social Care Board providing details of trust management costs and agreed to write to the Board for additional information.

The Committee noted responses from the South Eastern, Southern and Western Trusts about language testing for applicants from EEA countries.

The Committee noted a response from the Belfast Trust regarding the provision of cooked meals by the Trust and agreed to forward this to Dr Burton who raised this matter with the Committee and to copy the response to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

The Committee noted a report on the Committee reception for healthcare related groups held on Tuesday 30 th November 2010 andagreed to follow up on the issues raised.

The Committee noted a report on the informal meeting with Action Cancer on Thursday 2 nd December 2010.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister to correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development regarding the timing of proposed changes to the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 and agreed to forward this to the Regional Development Committee.

5. Autism Bill NIA 2/10

The Committee discussed the committee stage of the Autism Bill and agreed a motion to extend this until Friday 11 th February 2011.

The Committee also agreed witnesses to be invited to present oral evidence to the Committee, organisations invited to submit written evidence to the committee and a public notice calling for evidence on the Bill.

The Committee agreed to meet on the mornings of 13 & 20 January to take oral evidence on the Bill.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek information regarding the advice it is seeking from the Attorney General on the Bill.

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

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

6. Budget 2010

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing a summary of the Department’s spending bids and agreed to write to the Department requesting the detailed bids.

The Committee agreed to invite expert witnesses to brief it on the Budget.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance & Personnel regarding Stakeholder Engagement on the Spending Review and draft Budget 2011-2015 and agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would represent the Committee in discussions being organised by the Committee for Finance & Personnel.

The Committee was briefed by Colin Pidgeon from Assembly Research Services on Historic Health & Social Care Expenditure. This was followed by a question and answer session.

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

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

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

3.30 p.m. Mr Mickey Brady left the meeting.

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

7. Adoption

The Committee noted briefing papers from Assembly Research Services and the Department on adoption. Members noted that the Department would brief the Committee on this matter in the New Year.

8. Correspondence

The Committee noted a letter from Randox regarding the outcome of the regional laboratory tender and agreed to forward this to the Public Accounts Committee for onward transmission to the NI Audit Office.

The Committee noted an email from Dementia Services Development Centre seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to the next reception for healthcare related groups.

The Committee noted a copy of the NI Audit Office report on “Arrangements for ensuring the quality of care in homes for older people”.

9. Any other Business

10. 4.05 p.m.Mr Mickey Brady rejoined the meeting.

11. 4.10 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.

The Committee agreed to write to the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust regarding the Cystic Fibrosis Ward and Cherry Tree House at the Royal Hospital.

12. Date, Time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Thursday 16 th December 2010 at 2 p.m. in room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.18 p.m.