Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
989. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with his counterpart in the UK in relation to the current Covid-19 surge and the impact of newly-detected variants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1295/21]
View answer990. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland in relation to a co-ordinated approach to tackle Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1296/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 989 and 990 together.
There has been, and continues to be, significant engagement and cooperation between the Ministers for Health, the Chief Medical Officers, and the Departments of Health in Ireland and Northern Ireland throughout this pandemic.
The administrations are seeking to adopt similar approaches, where it is appropriate to do so and on the advice of respective Chief Medical Officers. This pragmatic approach is underpinned a Memorandum of Understanding agreed by the Chief Medical Officers of the Department of Health and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland in April 2020 to strengthen North South co-operation on the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In November, this overarching MoU was supplemented with a further MoU in relation to a framework for mutual support for the provision of critical care.
Meetings of the North South Ministerial Council are also an important pillar in our regular engagements with Northern Ireland counterparts on COVID-19.
