11 Noll 2014, 15:02
The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has this morning agreed to write to the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar TD and the Minister for Children James Reilly TD to ensure the current levels cooperation in cross-border hospice and palliative can be sustained and further enhanced.
11 December 2014
Karen Charnley of the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) was before the Committee, outlining the Institute's work in bringing a broad range of expertise from both sides of the border together to support the service delivery and management of hospice and palliative care across the island of Ireland.
Given that academic institutions are also Members of the AIIHPC, the Committee will also write to the Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan.
Chairman of the Committee Frank Feighan TD says: “This morning’s meeting afforded Committee Members a very positive insight into the work of the AIIHPC in the practical sharing of expertise from both sides of the border. The provision of hospice and palliative care is a hugely challenging policy area and we thank Karen Charnley for a detailed presentation how 17 separate organisations from both sides of the border are pooling their knowledge and expertise to help deliver these valuable services for patients and their families.
“Committee Members, particularly those from border constituencies, pointed out where further, deeper cooperation could benefit patients and their families in the provision of this care. The gaps in the provision of quality palliative care for children in some cross border areas particular were instanced. With this in mind, the Committee agreed to write to the Minster for Health and the Minister for Children calling for all opportunities for practical cross border cooperation in this emotive area to be seized.”
Ends
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Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
Committee Membership
Deputies:
Seán Conlan, Fine Gael
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Frank Feighan, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Michael P. Kitt, Fianna Fáil
Dinny McGinley, Fine Gael
Joe O’Reilly, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Maureen O’Sullivan, Independent
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Ruairí Quinn, Labour
Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil
Joanna Tuffy, Labour
Jack Wall, Labour
Senators:
Maurice Cummins, Fine Gael
Jim D’Arcy, Fine Gael
Mary Moran, Labour
Mary White, Fianna Fáil