Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021
125. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to implement an all-island anti-Covid-19 strategy in conjunction with the Northern Executive since 1 January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4682/21]
View answerOn the island of Ireland, our shared geography and the cross-border mobility of people means that, in responding to Covid-19, we need to bear in mind the impact of measures on all of our people. There is a need, therefore, for close and ongoing contact North-South and indeed East-West, where possible.
North-South contact and cooperation on the island is ongoing at both operational and political level. As public health measures are under constant review in both jurisdictions, these North-South collaborative arrangements remain important.
Both administrations are seeking to adopt broadly similar approaches, where it is appropriate to do so and on the advice of our respective Chief Medical Officers. This approach is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding agreed by the Chief Medical Officers of the Department of Health and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland to strengthen North South co-operation on the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In November, this overarching agreement was supplemented with a further MOU in relation to a framework for mutual support for the provision of critical care.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department does not lead on the response to Covid-19 from the operational perspective. Implementation measures regarding our public health response to the pandemic remain the responsibility of relevant Departments, particularly the Department of Health.
However I, and officials in my Department, continue to facilitate necessary contact and coordination with the Northern Ireland Executive.
With the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, I have jointly chaired a number of conference calls with the First Minister, deputy First Minister and the Health Ministers from both jurisdictions to discuss the ongoing response to COVID-19.
A meeting in this format is planned to take place in the coming days.
Further, in recent weeks, in view of fast-moving developments in both jurisdictions, official level calls have been facilitated with counterparts in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, to discuss measures in place.
In the coming period, officials from both jurisdictions will continue to exchange views to foster commonality in their approach, where possible.
