Seanad Brexit Committee to discuss Cross-Border Healthcare Directive

The meeting of Senators at 3pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will hold two sessions to examine the impact of Brexit on the Directive.

The first session from 3pm to 3.55pm will hear from officials from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive.

This will be followed from 4pm with representatives of the Kingsbridge Private Hospitals in Belfast and Sligo, and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA).

Speaking ahead of Monday’s meeting, Committee Chair Senator Lisa Chambers said: “The Cross-Border Healthcare Directive is an area where the real-life impact of Brexit affects ordinary people. Since the beginning of January, we have heard how people who are on long waiting lists here for cataract or hip replacement operations are concerned that they no longer have access under the Directive to treatment in Northern Ireland for which they will be reimbursed by the HSE. The Committee looks forward to discussing the Directive with the Department and the HSE, and our witnesses from Kingsbridge Hospitals and PDFORRA.”

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.