Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 25 October 2011
Venue: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
The meeting commenced at 2.03 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Committee agreed to sponsor an event being organised by Independent Health Care Providers in the Long Gallery on 21 November.
The Chairperson reminded members that the next Committee meeting on 9 November will be held at Kirkubbin Healthy Living Centre.
2.06 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
2.07 p.m. Mr Jim Wells joined the meeting.
2.07 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne joined the meeting.
2.07 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis joined the meeting.
2.09 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan joined the meeting.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 19 th October 2011
The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 19 th October 2011 were agreed.
4. DHSSPS Resource Accounts 2010/11
The Committee noted the DHSSPS Resource accounts 2010/11 and agreed to write to the Department for further information.
5. Matters arising
The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing additional information on the mental health budget following an evidence session with officials on Wednesday 21 st September 2011 and agreed to arrange a further evidence session on this matter.
6. Evidence session with the Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety regarding October monitoring bids
The Committee took evidence from:
Mr Edwin Poots Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Dr Andrew McCormick Permanent Secretary, DHSSPS
Ms Julie Thompson Head of Resources & Performance Management, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
7. Committee discussion on Specialist Advisor
3.01 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.
3.01 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
3.02 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.
3.05 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne re-joined the meeting.
The Committee agreed to appoint a Specialist Adviser on budget.
8. Matters arising
The Committee noted a response from the Chair of the UK National Screening Committee regarding screening for Group B Streptococcus in pregnancy and agreed to forward this to Group B Strep Support who raised this matter with the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister about funding for the NI Music Therapy Trust and agreed to write to the Department about bidding for funds for the NI Music Therapy Trust and for Homestart.
The Committee noted a letter from the Chairperson of the Southern Local Commissioning Group thanking the Committee for meeting with Local Commissioning Group chairs and agreed to hear from the chairs again in 2012.
3.08 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley re-joined the meeting.
9. Evidence session with the Rainbow Project on the lifetime ban on men who have sex with men donating blood
The Committee took evidence from:
Mr John O'Doherty The Rainbow Project
Mr Matthew McDermott The Rainbow Project
Mr Harry McAnulty The Rainbow Project
3.21 p.m. Mr John McCallister re-joined the meeting.
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.42 p.m. meeting adjourned.
3.49 p.m. meeting resumed.
10. Evidence session with the Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety on the lifetime ban on men who have sex with men donating blood
The Committee took evidence from:
Mr Edwin Poots Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Dr Andrew McCormick Permanent Secretary, DHSSPS
Dr Michael McBride Chief Medical Officer
Ms Christine Jendoubi Director of Mental Health, DHSSPS
4.02 p.m. Mr Mickey Brady left the meeting.
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
11. Evidence session with the Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety on allegations of abuse at Lissue and Forster Green hospitals
The Committee took evidence from:
Mr Edwin Poots Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Dr Andrew McCormick Permanent Secretary, DHSSPS
Dr Michael McBride Chief Medical Officer
Ms Christine Jendoubi Director of Mental Health, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
12. Proposed Statutory Rules
5.02 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis left the meeting.
The Committee considered the Sunbeds (Fixed Penalty) Regulations agreed to write to the Department for further information.
The Committee considered the Sunbeds (Information) Regulations agreed to write to the Department for further information.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding its concerns about the level of detail provided to it in SL1s.
13. Report on informal meeting on Thursday 6 th October 2011
The Committee noted a report on informal meetings on Thursday 6th October 2011 and agreed to follow up on the issues raised.
14. Correspondence
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding Firefighters’ Pension Schemes.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme.
Ms Paula Bradley made a declaration of interest that she is a member of the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding the European Parliament and Council Directive safety of human organs intended for transplantation.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Executive’s Review of the Financial Process and agreed to return to this at the next Committee meeting.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning regarding independent living for those with disabilities and agreed to respond to the letter.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Environment regarding its inquiry into used tyre disposal and agreed to forward a letter to the Department.
The Committee noted a letter from the Chief Executive of Marie Curie seeking a meeting and agreed that to invite the organisation at a local level to a future informal meeting.
The Committee noted a letter from the Confederation for Health and Social Care seeking a meeting with it and agreed to invite the organisation to an informal meeting.
The Committee noted a letter from Save the Mid seeking a meeting. Members noted that the Committee had previously agreed to hold an informal meeting with the group.
The Committee noted a letter from Ms Carron regarding a personal case and agreed to refer Ms Carron her constituency MLAs.
5.13 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis re-joined the meeting.
15. Any Other Business
No other business was discussed.
16. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 9 th November 2011 at 2.00 p.m. in Kircubbin Community Health Care Centre.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.18 p.m.
