Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 9

Written Answers. - Council of Europe Convention.

John Bruton

Question:

250 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health the reason Ireland has not yet signed the Council of Europe Convention on Medical Care to Persons During Temporary Residence; when the Convention was opened for signature; if he proposes to introduce legislation to ratify this Convention; the advantages of this Convention for Ireland and Europe; the countries which have ratified it; and if he will make a statement on any reservations Ireland has about the Convention from a cost or other point of view.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The European agreement concerning the provision of medical care to persons during temporary residence was opened for signature on 17 October 1980. To date the Agreement has been ratified only by Hungary, East Germany, West Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Italy.

The Agreement concerns the provision of emergency medical services to temporary visitors under the same conditions which apply to persons normally resident here. All Irish residents making temporary visits to other EC member states, and EC residents making temporary visits to Ireland, are already covered for emergency services under EC legislation. The extension of similar cover in Ireland to visitors from other countries could be accommodated within existing legislation. However, given both the extent of cover for visitors under the EC arrangements, and the financial constraints on the health services throughout the period since the Agreement was opened for signature in 1980, signature has not been considered a priority.