Committee for Health

Minutes of proceedings 10 March 2026

Committee for Health Minutes of proceedings 10 March 2026.pdf (181.26 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

Present:                 

Phillip McGuigan MLA (Chairperson)

Danny Donnelly MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Alan Chambers MLA

Diane Dodds MLA

Linda Dillon MLA

Órlaithí Flynn MLA

Nuala McAllister MLA

Colin McGrath MLA

Apologies:             

Alan Robinson MLA

In Attendance:      

Keith McBride, Clerk

Michael Doran, Senior Assistant Clerk

Roisin Donnelly, Senior Assistant Clerk

Shannen Lofthouse, Assistant Clerk

Angela McParland, Assistant Clerk

Jonathan Lamont, Clerical Supervisor

Caroline Devlin, Clerical Officer.

The meeting commenced at 9.53am in closed session.


1. Apologies

Alan Robinson MLA.


2. Closed Session- Committee Deliberations on the Adult Protection Bill.

The Committee undertook its informal deliberations of the Adult Protection Bill.

Órlaithí Flynn MLA joined the meeting at 10.00am.

Alan Chambers MLA joined the meeting at 10.00am.

Nuala McAllister MLA joined the meeting at 10.19am.

The Committee agreed to request the following from the Department:

  • Clause 25- Details of any engagement with the Commissioner for Older People regarding the absence of a right of appeal for certain orders.
  • Clause 26- Clarification from the Bill drafter on the wording requiring Trusts to “make arrangements to secure” that an Independent Advocate is “available.”
  • Clause 33- Further information on the rationale for this Clause and its implications for the independence of the Board.
  • Clause 40- Sight of any advice received from the Department of Justice that informed the sanctions proposed in this Clause.
  • Clause 42- Further explanation of the provision preventing liability for aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring an offence under section 39, including examples.

Órlaithí Flynn MLA left the meeting at 10.47am.

Colin McGrath MLA left the meeting at 10.53am.


3. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled to take place in Room 29 at 2pm on 12 March.  

The meeting was adjourned at 11.27am.

 

Phillip McGuigan MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Health

19 March 2026