Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 2.03 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies were received as above.

2. Chairperson’s business

The Committee noted that a briefing from the Department providing an update on the Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit ( PEDU) study scheduled for 12 October has been postponed as the study has not been completed and agreed to write to the Department for an update on the timetable for the study.

The Committee noted that the East Belfast Community Development Agency was visiting Parliament Buildings on Tuesday 11 October and would hold a short meeting with the Chairperson and other Members.

The Chairperson reminded members that the Committee would be holding informal meetings with a number of health care groups on Thursday 6 th October 2011.

The Chairperson reminded members that the Committee was co-sponsoring the launch of Libraries NI “Health in Mind” project in the Long Gallery on Wednesday 12th October 2011.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 28th September 2011

The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 28th September 2011 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

The Committee discussed the Health & Social Care Review and agreed to invite the review team to brief it in October 2011. The Committee also agreed to invite the review team to brief members on its draft report at the Committee meeting on 23 November 2011.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the mechanism for increasing the fees in relation to the regulation of private dentistry and agreed to forward this to the British Dental Association.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the implementation of the recommendations of the Dental Hospital Inquiry and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister stating that he was content for the Department of Justice’s proposal to bring forward the “Commencement Order: Corporate Manslaughter: Custody/Detention”. The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Justice stating that it was that it was content for the Department of Justice to proceed with the legislation.

The Committee noted a response from the Department confirming that it will provide the Committee with a copy of its October monitoring round bid when this is issued to the Department for Finance & Personnel. The Committee agreed to ask the Clerk to pursue this issue with the Department as it understood bids had already been submitted to the Department for Finance & Personnel.

5. Evidence session on the Mental Capacity (Health, Welfare & Finance) Bill

The Committee took evidence from:

Ms Christine Jendoubi Director, Mental Health & Disabiity Policy
Mr Patrick McConville Principal, Mental Capacity Legislation Unit
Ms Alison McCaffrey Principal, Mental Capacity Legislation Unit

2.17 p.m. Ms Michelle Gildernew left the meeting.
2.17 p.m. Mr Jim Wells took the Chair.
2.22 p.m. Ms Michelle Gildernew rejoined the meeting and took the Chair.

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

2.59 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.
3.02 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.

The Committee agreed to invite Dr Colin Harper from the Mental Health Alliance to give pre-introductory evidence to Committee on the Mental Capacity (Health, Welfare & Finance) Bill.

The Committee agreed to write to the DHSSPS Minister and the Committee for Justice regarding the criminal justice aspect of Bill.

6. Evidence session with the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the Mental Health (Private Hospital) Regulations (NI) 2011

The Committee took evidence from:

Dr Philip McGarry Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Northern Ireland
Ms Liz Main Communications & Public Affairs Consultant, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Northern Ireland

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department on a number of issues on receipt of the Hansard from the session.

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

7. Statutory Rule - 2011/327. The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts)(Prescription of Drugs Etc) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Committee considered SR 2011/327 The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs Etc) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

8. Proposed Statutory Rule

The Committee considered the Protection from Tobacco (Sales from Vending Machines) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 and agreed that it was content for the Department to prepare the rule.

9. Correspondence

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister providing the Department’s plans for the management of seasonal flu in 2011/12.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding a consultation on the proposed Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Order (NI) 2012 and agreed to write to the Fire Brigades Union seeking its views on the proposed legislation.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding a consultation on the draft car parking policy proposals for the health and social care sector and agreed to commission a research paper on this matter.

The Committee noted correspondence from Down District Council about the Ballynahinch and Newcastle Homestart schemes and agreed to write to the Department for information on all Homestart schemes.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding an event on the public expenditure system being held on Tuesday 18th October.

The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to the Department.

The Committee noted a letter from the British Heart Foundation seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to an informal meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from RNIB seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to an informal meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from the Sarcoidosis Group seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to an informal meeting.

The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for the Environment to the Department.

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

10. Any Other Business

Members put forward their views on the industrial action of 5 October 2011 in the health and social care sector.

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

11. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 12 th September 2011 at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.11 p.m.