Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 2.00 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

No apologies were received.

2. Chairperson’s business

The Committee noted the publication of a Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) report on prison Healthcare at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre and Ash House Women’s Prison and agreed to take evidence from the RQIA, the DHSSPS, the Health & Social Care Board and the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust on this matter.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 5th October 2011

The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 5th October 2011 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

2.05 p.m. Mr Jim Wells joined the meeting.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Department’s October monitoring bid and agreed to take evidence from the Minister regarding this.

2.23 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley joined the meeting.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Health & Social Care Review Team.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about funding from European programmes and agreed to write to the Department again regarding this matter.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the provision of community meals and agreed to write to the Department in support of this service.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the provision of compensation for businesses who make or supply tobacco vending machines and agreed to write to Mr McNabb who originally raised this matter with the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the need for a review of neurological services and agreed to copy this to the Motor Neurone Disease Association who raised this matter with the Committee. The Committee agreed to return to this issue later in the year.

The Committee noted a copy of the Minister’s response to the Committee for the Environment about gorse fires.

5. Evidence session with the Children’s Law Centre on the Mental Health (Private Hospital) Regulations (NI) 2011

The Committee took evidence from:

Mr Eamonn McNally Children’s Law Centre
Ms Natalie Whelehan Children’s Law Centre

3.07 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis left the meeting.
3.07 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.
3.08 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis rejoined the meeting.
3.08 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.
3.17 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan left the meeting.
3.18 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan rejoined the meeting.
3.34 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
3.36 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.
3.40 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee agreed to write to the Department stating that it was not content at this stage for it to prepare the Statutory Rule and would discuss the issue further at its meeting on 19 October 2011.

3.42 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the Committee.

6. Evidence session with Local Commissioning Groups on commissioning plans for 2011/2012.

The Committee took evidence from:

Dr Brendan O’Hare Chair, Western Local Commissioning Group
Dr Brian Hunter Chair, Northern Local Commissioning Group
Mr Sheelin McKeagney Chair, Southern Local Commissioning Group
Dr George O’Neill Chair, Belfast Local Commissioning Group
Dr Nigel Campbell Chair, South Eastern Local Commissioning Group

3.43 p.m. Mr Mickey Brady left the meeting.
3.43 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.

Mr Mark H Durkan made a declaration of interest that he was a former member of the Western Local Commissioning Group.

3.46 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne rejoined the meeting.
3.52 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis left the meeting.
4.00 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.
4.01 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan left the meeting.
4.03 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis rejoined the meeting.
4.07 p.m. Mr Mickey Brady rejoined the meeting.
4.09 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.
4.16 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan rejoined the meeting.
4.16 p.m. Ms Michaela Boyle left the meeting.
4.33 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy left the meeting.
4.40 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.
4.42 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.
4.45 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis left the meeting.
5.03 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan left the meeting.

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

7. Proposed Statutory Rule

The Committee considered the Consolidation of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 (as amended) and agreed that it was content for the Department to prepare the rule.

8. Correspondence

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Social Development about an event it is holding about fuel poverty and agreed to forward details of stakeholders to the Committee for Social Development.

The Committee noted a letter from the Parent and Toddler Group, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Greyabbey, about local pharmacy funding.

The Committee noted a letter from the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection regarding animal experimentation and agreed to write to the Department about this matter.

The Committee noted a letter from the Armagh Allotments Ltd about funding for Allotments/Community Gardens from the Public Health Agency and agreed to write to the Public Health Agency asking it to reply directly to the issues raised and to copy its response to the Committee. The Committee also agreed to write to Armagh Allotments Ltd to advise of this course of action and to suggest that it contacts the constituency MLAs for further support.

The Committee noted a briefing paper from Save the Children ‘Making work pay’ and agreed to write to the Department requesting an update on its child minding functions.

The Committee noted an invitation from the All Party Group on Children and Young People to its event ‘Shaping Futures: Investing in Children, Families & Communities’.

9. Any Other Business

No other business was discussed.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 19 th October 2011 at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.14 p.m.