Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2012/2013

Date: 21 November 2012

Venue: The Senate Chamber

The meeting commenced at 2.01 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

No apologies were received.

2. Chair’s Business

The Committee noted the Regulation & Quality Improvement Authority’s Annual Report & Accounts for 2011/12.

The Committee noted a letter from the Enterprise Trade & Investment Committee regarding its motion on the Small Business Research Initiative and agreed to write to the Department seeking its views on the matter.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 14th November 2012

The minutes of the Committee meeting on Wednesday 14th November 2012 were agreed.

4. Review on Budget Scrutiny

The Committee took evidence from:

Professor David Bell, University of Sterling

Mr Simon Wakefield, Finance Scrutiny Unit, Scottish Parliament

A question and answer session ensued.

Mr Roy Beggs made a declaration of interest that he was a member of Horizon Surestart.

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

2.09 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt joined the meeting.

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

2.21 p.m. Ms Pam Brown joined the meeting.

2.25 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.

2.28 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting.

2.30 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.

2.32 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.

2.34 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt rejoined the meeting.

2.53 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting.

3.01p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.

3.01 p.m. Mr Jim Wells took the Chair.

3.10 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.

3.17 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting & resumed the Chair.

3.17 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.

5. Evidence session on the Accident & Emergency Improvement Action Group

The Committee took evidence from:

Ms Catherine Daly, Deputy Secretary, Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Mr John Compton, Chief Executive, Health & Social Care Board

Ms Mary Hinds, Public Health Agency

A question and answer session ensued.

4.14 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.

4.16 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt rejoined the meeting.

4.19 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne joined the meeting.

4.19 p.m. Ms Maeve McLaughlin left the meeting.

4.37 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.

4.50 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.

4.54 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting.

4.54 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.

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

6. Review on Health Inequalities

The Committee noted the official report for evidence sessions on the Triple P and Youngballymun Projects and a summary of the issues raised.

The Committee noted responses from the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department of the Environment regarding programmes to tackle inequalities in early years.

7. Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted its Forward Work Programme.

8. The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (2007 Order) (Commencement No.7) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012

The Committee noted the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (2007 Order) (Commencement No.7) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.

9. Matters arising

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding waiting times for review appointments for epilepsy patients and agreed to copy this to Epilepsy NI who raised these matters with it.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister to the Committee for Education regarding promoting good mental health in the revised curriculum.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding GP Out of Hours Services.

10. Correspondence

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding proposed amendments to the Health and Personal Social Services Act.

The Committee noted a letter from Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Strategic Investment Board September report on the Executive’s Investment Strategy.

The Committee noted a letter from East Belfast Community Counselling and agreed to invite the organisation to an informal meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from the Centre for Aging Research & Development in Ireland and agreed to invite the organisation to an informal meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from a consultant and agreed to write to him for further information.

11. Any other Business

The Committee agreed to write to the Department for an update on funding for the Northern Ireland Hospice.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 28th November 2012 at 10.30am in room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.03 p.m.

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