Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 17 October 2012
Venue: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
The meeting commenced at 2.04 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chair’s Business
The Chairperson welcomed Roy Beggs to the Committee.
The Committee agreed to write to all Departments for details of early years programmes they are operating.
Mr Roy Beggs made a declaration of interest that he is a Committee Member of Horizon Sure Start.
The Committee agreed to meet in the morning and afternoon of 7th November 2012 to take evidence on the review of health inequalities.
2.06 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy joined the meeting.
2.06 p.m. Ms Maeve McLaughlin joined the meeting.
2.07 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt joined the meeting.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding the regulation of the Marie Stopes Clinic and the introduction of guidelines on the termination of pregnancy.
The Committee agreed to take evidence from Departmental officials regarding the NI Fire & Rescue Service at its next meeting. The Committee also agreed to take evidence from the Chief Executive and the Chief Fire Officer of the NI Fire & Rescue Service following Halloween recess.
2.11 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley joined the meeting.
The Committee agreed to hold an informal meeting with trade union officials on Wednesday 28th November 2012.
Evidence session on on E-Coli outbreak.
The Committee took evidence from:
Dr Elizabeth Mitchell Deputy Chief Medical Officer, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued. The witness agreed to provide the Committee with further information. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 10th October 2012
The minutes of the Committee meeting on Wednesday 10th October 2012 were agreed.
2.51 p.m. Ms Maeve McLaughlin left the meeting.
4. Evidence session on progress against Programme for Government Delivery Plans
The Committee took evidence from:
Ms Julie Thompson - Deputy Secretary, DHSSPS
Ms Catherine Daly - Deputy Secretary, DHSSPS
Dr Elizabeth Mitchell - Deputy Chief Medical Officer, DHSSPS
Ms Eilis McDaniel - Acting Director, Child Care Policy Directorate, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued.
2.56 p.m. Ms Maeve McLaughlin rejoined the meeting.
2.59 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left meeting.
3.06 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting.
3.33 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.
3.36 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.
The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with further information. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.46 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.
3.46 p.m. Ms Maeve McLaughlin left the meeting.
3.46 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy left the meeting.
3.46 p.m. meeting adjourned.
3.53 p.m. meeting resumed.
5. Evidence session on the Future of Care & Support in Northern Ireland
The Committee took evidence from:
Ms Christine Jendoubi - Director of Mental Health, Disability & Older Peoples Policy, DHSSPS
Mr Michael Sweeney - Project Manager, Reform of Adult Care & Support, DHSSPS
Mr Dean Looney - Adult Care & Support Reform Team, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued.
4.25 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
4.31 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with further information. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
6. Forward Work Programme.
The Committee noted its Forward Work Programme.
7. Matters arising.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Caesarean Sections and agreed to write to the Department for further information.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the MRI Scanner at the South West Acute Hospital.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Resource Budget 2012/13 and agreed to write to the Department for further information.
The Committee noted a response from the RQIA regarding Owenvale Court Residential Home.
The Committee noted a response from Asthma UK regarding access to inhalers in schools for emergencies.
The Committee noted a Research and Information Service Briefing paper on Clinical Excellence Awards Schemes.
8. Correspondence.
The Committee noted a research paper on shared services and agreed to forward this to the Department seeking its views.
The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Education regarding promoting good mental health in the revised curriculum to the Department.
The Committee noted correspondence from Barnardo’s regarding early years interventions.
The Committee noted an invitation to all Members from the Patient and Client Council to its User Carer Celebration Day on Wednesday 21st November.
The Committee noted a letter regarding the status and protection of St John Ambulance Volunteers and agreed to forward this to the Department seeking its views on the matters raised.
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 24th October 2012 at 2.00pm in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.39 p.m.
