Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 18 January 2012
Venue: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
The meeting commenced at 2.06 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies noted above.
2. Chair’s Business
The Committee noted that the Chair, Deputy Chair and Clerk would be attending a workshop on the Cuban approach to health and social care on 27 January 2012.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 11th January 2012
The minutes of the Committee meeting on Wednesday 11th January 2012 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Department’s resource accounts for 2011/2012.
2.11 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley joined the meeting.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade & Investment about the draft Economic Strategy Action Plan and agreed a response. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department for information on the proposed Public Health Strategy.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding the Commissioning Direction for 2012/2013 and agreed to write to the Minister about this matter.
5. Evidence session on allegations of abuse at Lissue & Forster Green Hospitals
The Committee took evidence from:
Mr Edwin Poots MLA Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Mr Sean Holland Deputy Secretary, Social Services Policy Group, DHSSPS
Ms Christine Jendoubi Director, Mental Health, Disability & Older People Policy
3.20 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
3.29 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy left the meeting.
3.35 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy rejoined the meeting.
3.45 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
3.46 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.
3.49 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting.
3.54 p.m. Ms Michaela Boyle left the meeting.
3.58 p.m. Ms Michaela Boyle rejoined the meeting.
3.59 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis left the meeting.
A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
4.03 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
4.09 p.m. Meeting resumed.
6. Proposed statutory rules
The Committee considered the Food Additives (Amendment) and the Extraction Solvents in Food (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and agreed that it was content for the Food Standards Agency to prepare the rule.
The Committee considered the Specified Products from China (Restriction on First Placing on the Market) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and agreed that it was content for the Food Standards Agency to prepare the rule.
4.09 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.
4.11 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis rejoined the meeting.
7. Consideration of Committee response on the draft Programme for Government & Investment Strategy
The Committee agreed a response on the draft Programme for Government & Investment Strategy.
8. Forward Work Programme
The Committee agreed its Forward Work Programme.
9. Correspondence
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding a targeted consultation on the Health Care (Reimbursement of the cost of EEA Services etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland).
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister regarding a one-off payment to patients who have received cancer treatment under the Financial Assistance Act.
The Committee agreed to accept an invitation from the University of Ulster Magee to visit its campus.
10. Any Other Business
The Committee agreed to write to the Department for information relating to the Beechcroft facility.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 25th January 2012 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.25 p.m.
