13 Jan 2015, 12:40
The topic of migration and health will be on the agenda of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade tomorrow when it meets with Dr Santino Severoni of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
13 January 2015
Dr Severoni is coordinator of the Public Health and Migration Project at the WHO’s Regional Office for Europe. The meeting will have a particular focus on the Project’s investigations into the health outcomes of those who migrate.
Chairman of the Committee Pat Breen TD: “The increased migration in recent years from North Africa and the Middle East poses significant challenges to public health systems across the European Union, particularly those of Southern European countries. Dr Severoni is leading a project which seeks to share best practice between health systems on how best to manage this influx of vulnerable migrants.
“The health challenges facing Irish emigrants may also flow into discussions tomorrow. Older members of the Irish Diaspora in countries like the UK and the United States often find themselves in difficult situations, unable to meet rising costs for even routine medical procedures. Tomorrow’s meeting will be a valuable opportunity to assess the policy responses required by Ireland and other EU Members States to improve migrants’ health and reduce health inequities.”
Separately, the Committee will consider the implications of the proposed Association Agreement between the European Union and Moldova with Deputy Eric Byrne TD.
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 14 January in Committee Room 1, LH 2000 at 2:30pm. Public proceedings can be viewed online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
ENDS/
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paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Deputies:
Pat Breen, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, Labour
Bernard Durkan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael
Dan Neville, Fine Gael
Ruairi Quinn, Labour
Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil
Maureen O’Sullivan, Independent
Senators:
Mark Daly, Fianna Fáil
Lorraine Higgins, Labour
Michael Mullins, Fine Gael
David Norris, Independent
Jim Walsh, Fianna Fáil