Bernard Allen
Ceist:169 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of meetings he has had with his Northern counterpart; the dates of those meetings; and the issues discussed at each of those meetings. [17363/01]
Written Answers. - Official Engagements.
I met with my Northern counterpart, Minister Bairbre de Brún, three times in 2000. We discussed issues concerning the Food Safety Promotion Board, which is one of the six North-South Implementation Bodies, together with a number of other issues that constitute areas for enhanced co-operation in health. These are cancer research, health promotion, accident and emergency services, major emergencies and high technology equipment.
Minister de Brún and I have not met in the context of the North-South Ministerial Council this year. We met, however, on 23 May in Dublin in the context of an informal meeting between the Ministers for Education and Health on both parts of the island. On that occasion, Minister de Brún and I were glad to have the opportunity to take stock of ongoing North-South co-operation in the areas of food safety and health.