Minutes of Proceedings 7 December 2021

Health Committee

Committee for Health

Minutes of Proceedings

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings

Present:

Colm Gildernew MLA (Chairperson)
Paula Bradshaw MLA
Gerry Carroll MLA
Alan Chambers MLA
Deborah Erskine MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Pam Cameron MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Órlaithí Flynn MLA
Colin McGrath MLA
Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

In Attendance:

Keith McBride (Clerk)
Ellen Wilson (Clerical Officer)

In Attendance by Video or Teleconference:

Roisin Donnelly (Assistant Clerk)
Deirdre Farry (Assistant Clerk)
Brendan Miskelly (Clerical Supervisor)

The meeting commenced at 12.53 pm in public session.

1.    Apologies

None.

2.    Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill – Clause by Clause Consideration

The Committee commenced its formal clause by clause consideration of the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill.

The Chairperson declared an interest as having met with Dáithí Mac Gabhann and representatives of the Donate4Dáithí campaign.

Clause 1: “Appropriate consent” to adult transplant activities

The Committee considered Clause 1 as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with Clause 1 as drafted.

Clause 2: Commencement and short title

The Committee considered Clause 2 as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with Clause 2 as drafted.

Long Title

The Committee considered the Long Title as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Long Title as drafted.

The Chairperson advised that the formal clause by clause scrutiny of the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill had concluded.

The clause by clause consideration of the Bill was reported by Hansard.

The Chairperson advised that a draft report of the Committee’s consideration of the Bill would be circulated to Members.

3.    Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill – Evidence from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

The following officials from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission joined the meeting by video-conference at 12.58 pm:

Alyson Kilpatrick, Chief Commissioner; and

Sarah Simms, Policy Officer.

Órlaithí Flynn MLA joined the meeting at 1.05 pm.

The Chief Commissioner briefed the Committee on the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill.

A question and answer session followed.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.

The briefing session was reported by Hansard.

4.    Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Health was scheduled to take place at       9.30 am on Thursday, 9 December 2021.

The meeting was adjourned at 1.43 pm.

Colm Gildernew MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Health