I propose to take Questions Nos. 312, 313 and 400 together.
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP), has a longstanding working relationship with the Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD) office of the Northern Ireland Department of Finance. Significant engagement had taken place between the OGP and CPD as part of the response to Covid-19, including exploring the option of a joint procurement to meet PPE needs. This joint option was progressed but was not ultimately concluded and both jurisdictions made their own arrangements for PPE supplies. There is ongoing dialogue between the OGP and CPD on Covid-19. A Memorandum of Understanding was formally agreed on 7 April between the Departments of Health in Ireland and Northern Ireland to underpin and strengthen North South co-operation on the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on facilitating greater co-operation on areas such as public health messaging, research, programmes of behavioural change, ethics, evidence base/ modelling and public health and non-pharmaceutical measures. Other areas will be considered, such as procurement, where this is of mutual benefit.