Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2011/2012

Date: 09 November 2011

Venue: Kircubbin Community and Health Care Centre

The meeting commenced at 2.11 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Committee agreed to sponsor a seminar on “Mental Health and Justice” being organized by NIACRO on Tuesday 22 November.

The Committee agreed a response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Executive’s Review of the Financial Process.

3. Committee discussion on appointing a Specialist Adviser

The Committee agreed that the membership for the Sub Committee to appoint a specialist adviser on budget would be five members and the quorum would be three members.

The Committee noted that the sub Committee would meet on Tuesday 29 November and Tuesday 6 December.

4. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 26th October 2011

The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 26th October 2011 were agreed.

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

5. Matters arising

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding screening for Group B Streptococcus and agreed to write to the Department for further information. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department for an update on the look-back exercise that the Department has asked the paediatric pathologist to undertake.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing details of funding for Homestart schemes and agreed to write to the Department about the Commissioning Direction it provides to Trusts.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing details of any projects removed from the Investing Activity Report.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Chairperson of the Belfast Local Commissioning Group.

The Committee noted concerns raised by the Examiner of Statutory Rules about the drafting of the Healthy Start Scheme and Day Care Scheme (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011.

The Committee noted a briefing paper from Kemneeds regarding local pharmacy services.

The Committee noted responses from the Minister to the Committee for the Environment regarding its inquiry into used tyre disposal and action taken by the Department to reduce energy use.

6. Evidence session with the Departmental officials on Breastfeeding Rates

The Committee was briefed by Assembly Research on Breastfeeding Rates.

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

The Committee took evidence from:

Dr Elizabeth Mitchell Deputy Chief Medical Officer, DHSSPS
Dr Heather Livingston Senior Medical Officer /Chair of the Breastfeeding Strategy Writing Group, DHSSPS
Ms Janet Calvert Regional Breastfeeding Co-ordinator, Public Health Agency

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

2.40 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
2.43 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy left the meeting.
2.48 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
3.37 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan left the meeting.
3.45 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan rejoined the meeting.

7. Statutory Rule. SR 2011/360. Fire and Rescue Services (Emergencies) Order (NI) 2011.

The Committee considered SR 2011/360. Fire and Rescue Services (Emergencies) Order (NI) 2011 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

8. Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted its forward work programme.

9. Correspondence

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding consultations on the introduction of independent prescribing for physiotherapists & podiatrists and agreed to write to the Minister supporting the proposals.

The Committee noted correspondence from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust regarding its Corporate Plan 2011-2015.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the prompt payment of invoices and agreed to write to the Department about this matter.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding European funding issues.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Post 19 Lobby Group and agreed to forward the letter to the Secretariat of the All Party Group on Disability.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding the World Police and Fire Games.

The Committee noted a letter from Mindwise regarding funding.

The Committee noted an invitation from the Inter Church Addictions Project to visit the Aislinn Centre, Ballyragget, Kilkenny and agreed to consider this along with other invitations at a later date.

The Committee noted an invitation to the ABPI NI Annual Lecture 2011.

10. Any Other Business

The Chairperson thanked Peninsula Healthy Living Centre for hosting the Committee meeting.

11. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 16 th November 2011 at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.04 p.m.

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