Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
859. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with his counterpart in Northern Ireland on developing all-island contingency planning to prepare for future island-wide epidemics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21170/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been, and continues to be, significant engagement and cooperation between the Ministers for Health, the Chief Medical Officers, and the Departments of Health in Ireland and Northern Ireland throughout this pandemic.
Both administrations are seeking to adopt similar approaches, where it is appropriate to do so and on the advice of respective Chief Medical Officers. This approach is underpinned a Memorandum of Understanding agreed by the Chief Medical Officers of the Department of Health and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland in April 2020 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 Memorandum of Understanding in relation to a framework for mutual support for the provision of critical care.
Meetings of the North South Ministerial Council are also an important pillar in our regular engagements with Northern Ireland counterparts on COVID-19. Recently, I met with Minister Swann at the North South Ministerial Council Health and Food Safety Sectoral. At this meeting the ongoing collaboration and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic were discussed and the potential for further collaboration on public health in both jurisdictions was welcomed.
I am committed to continue this close and productive cooperation with Northern Ireland to foster commonality in approaches, where possible.
