Billy Kelleher
Question:421. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings of his Department's Brexit committee that have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5670/17]
View answerTuesday, 7 February 2017
Questions (421)
Written answers
My Department is building on initial work completed to deepen its analysis of the possible impacts, risks, opportunities and contingencies arising over the longer term as a result of the UK's decision to leave the EU, including in the area of cross-border health co-operation. A Department of Health Management Board Subcommittee on Brexit was established in advance of the UK referendum to examine the implications of a decision to leave the EU on healthcare in Ireland and for Irish citizens. The Subcommittee is chaired at senior level and made up of representatives from across the Department, as well as from the HSE at National Director level. This sub-committee has met four times, with each division within my Department providing support and analysis. The Department of Health has also tasked the HSE and its other agencies with conducting further analysis on the impact of Brexit and this work is ongoing. My Department, in cooperation with its agencies and other stakeholders, will continue to intensify detailed and focused preparations for the impact of Brexit on the health sector. The work of the Management Board sub-committee feeds into the structures coordinated centrally by the Department of the Taoiseach. My Department is represented on the Senior Officials Group on EU Affairs and the Interdepartmental Group on EU/UK Affairs, which supports the Cabinet Committee on Brexit, and provides input to a number of the workgroups set up as part of this support structure.
In addition to the Management Board sub-committee, an Interdepartmental/Interagency Group has been established to prepare a bid for the relocation of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on foot of a Government Decision at the end of October. The Government believes that Ireland would be a very suitable location and that a move to Dublin would minimise the disruption to the business of the EMA, thus ensuring continued protection of EU citizens and providing reassurance to the industries which it regulates. The Group is chaired by the Department of Health and includes representatives from the Departments of the Taoiseach, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Agriculture Food and Marine, and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, as well as the Health Products Regulatory Authority, Health Research Board, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland. The first meeting of the Group took place on 8 November and it has met twice since. A sub-group of the EMA Working Group has also met three times.
Questions Nos. 422 and 423 answered with Question No. 420.