5 Feabh 2014, 17:27
Committee will also meet Commissioner for Victims and Survivors
5 February 2014
The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement tomorrow meets with Department of Health Officials assess how cross border access to healthcare can be advanced.
The Officials will brief the Committee on current North/South cooperation in the area of health and outline patients' rights under EU legislation to cross-border healthcare.
Chairman of the Committee Joe McHugh TD says: “At a time when health resources everywhere are under pressure, cooperation between the Health authorities in both jurisdictions has the potential to make radical improvements for citizens on both sides of the border. Tomorrow’s meeting with Department Officials will provide an opportunity to assess how a coordinated approach to health services can be developed. Furthermore, existing and proposed EU legislation has important implications for cross border care. In many other EU Member States, citizens regularly avail of treatment in neighbouring jurisdictions. Department Officials are expected to outline the entitlements of citizens to cross border healthcare, and the implications for both health systems as a result.”
Separately, the Committee will hear from Kathryn Stone OBE, the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors, on her work in giving a voice to victims and survivors of the Troubles.
Deputy McHugh continues: “The Good Friday Agreement recognises the need for services that are supportive and sensitive to the needs of victims. Commissioner Stone was appointed by the First and Deputy First Ministers on 24 September 2012 and tomorrow will have the opportunity to outline the work of her office. The meeting is timely in light of the public dialogue that now exists on dealing with the past, and the Committee has expressed support that proposals that have emerged during the recent Haass to support the needs of victims come to full fruition.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Thursday 6 February at 10:15 am in Committee Room 4, LH 2000 and can be viewed online here.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Members of the Committee:
Deputies: Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Peter M Fitzpatrick, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Michael P Kitt, Joe McHugh (Chair), Joe O’Reilly (Vice-Chair), Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Brendan Smith, Joanna Tuffy and Jack Wall
Senators: Maurice Cummins (Leader of the House), Jim D’Arcy, Mary Moran and Mary White