Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2011/2012

Date: 30 May 2012

Venue: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

The meeting commenced at 2.04 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

No apologies were received.

2. Chair’s Business

The Committee noted that the Children’s Law Centre will deliver a training seminar on Tuesday 19th June and that the Justice Committee and other interested MLAs would be invited.

The Committee discussed the procedure for statutory rules.

The Committee noted that there would be an additional evidence session on Thursday 31st May 2012 regarding the pseudomonas report.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 16th May 2012

The minutes of the Committee meeting on Wednesday 16th May 2012 were agreed.

4. Evidence session on June Monitoring and Forecast Outturn for 2011/2012

The Committee took evidence from:

Ms Julie Thompson - Deputy Secretary, Resources and Performance Management Group

Ms Catherine Daly - Deputy Secretary, Healthcare Policy Group

Dr Bernie Stuart - Director of Health Estates Investment Group

A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information.

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

2.22 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.

2.30 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.

2.31 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne rejoined the meeting.

2.43 p.m. Ms Michelle Gildernew left the meeting.

2.45 p.m. Ms Michelle Gildernew rejoined the meeting.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.            

5. Evidence session on suicide prevention and the ‘Protect Life’ Strategy

The Committee took evidence from:

Dr Michael McBride - Chief Medical Officer, DHSSPS

Dr Eddie Rooney - Chief Executive, Public Health Agency

Mr Colm Donaghy - Chair, Suicide Strategy Implementation Body

Mr Gerard Collins - Health Improvement Policy Branch, DHSSPS

A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide additional information.

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

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

3.53 p.m. Ms Michelle Gildernew left the meeting.

3.59 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy left the meeting.

4.01 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy rejoined the meeting.

4.05 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.

4.13 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.

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

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

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

4.23p.m. Meeting adjourned.

4.23 p.m. Mr John McCallister left meeting.

4.33 p.m. Meeting resumed.

6. Evidence session on Accident & Emergency reports on Antrim Area Hospital

The Committee took evidence from:

Dr Andrew McCormick - Permanent Secretary, DHSSPS

Mr John Compton - Chief Executive, HSC Board

Ms Mary Hinds - Public Health Agency

Mr Sean Donaghy - Chief Executive, Northern Health & Social Care Trust

A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide additional information.

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

5.32 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.

 The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

7. Draft Commissioning Plan

The Committee noted the draft Commissioning Plan for 2012/13 and agreed to arrange an evidence session with departmental officials on Wednesday 6th June 2012.

8. Proposed Statutory Rule. The Foster Placement (Children) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

The Committee considered the Foster Placement (Children) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and agreed that it was content for the Department to prepare the rule.

9. Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted its Forward Work Programme.

The Committee agreed to write to hospital campaign groups and the unions for their views on current issues around Accident & Emergency services. 

The Committee agreed to arrange a visit to Craigavon Area Hospital Accident & Emergency Unit on 13 June 2012.

10. Any Other Business

The Committee agreed to invite Women’s Aid to an informal meeting.

The Committee agreed to seek an update on the Domestic and Sexual Violence Action Plan.

11. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Thursday 31st May 2012 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.44 p.m.

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