Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2017
443. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the health service preparations his Department has made regarding Brexit to address the potential impact it may have on the cross-border health care directive scheme. [50493/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit. In this capacity, the Department of Health is working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to address the many challenges resulting from Brexit. This cooperation also involves the relevant State Agencies.
Work at Cabinet level is being prepared through cross-Departmental coordination structures. These represent a frequent and active channel through which all relevant Departments are providing their research, analysis and overall policy input to the Government's wider response to Brexit, including its priorities for the ongoing Article 50 negotiations between the EU and the UK. As the outcome of the negotiations is not yet known, an important focus of the planning and preparation being undertaken through these structures is on deepening the Government's analysis and understanding of the exact consequences of a range of different possible scenarios. This represents an intensification of efforts to build on the Government's contingency planning.
The Department of Health and its agencies have been conducting detailed analysis on the impacts of Brexit in the area of Health, including the Cross Border Directive. A number of issues are being examined and contingency planning for a range of eventualities is underway. A key issue will be to ensure that there is minimum disruption to health services and that essential services are maintained on a Cross-Border, all-island and Ireland-UK basis.
