Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has again called on the Minister for Health to ensure the maximum level of co-operation on an All Ireland basis in dealing with the covid-19 pandemic.

“In Dáil Éireann I appealed to the Minister for Health to ensure the maximum co-operation by the Health Departments, North and South. I instanced the increase in the movement of persons and goods with the gradual re-opening of the economy North and South and the attendant health risks.

I believe that tracing apps should be compatible on all of the island and there is an obvious need for co-operation between the HSE and the Health Service Executive Northern Ireland on this issue.

The Minister for Health in his reply stated that the engagement to date has been very pragmatic and constructive and that the administrations are seeking to adopt similar approaches where it is appropriate to do so on the advice of respective Chief Medical Officers. The Minister further informed me that DG Sante (Health Directorate), DG Connect and other key stakeholders at EU level are leading the way in developing interoperability standards to enable national apps to work in other Member States, to support EU citizens as they travel between countries”, stated Deputy Brendan Smith.

Below replies by the Minister for Health to Parliamentary Questions I tabled in Dáil Éireann –

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For Written Answer on : 23/06/2020
Question Number(s): 562 Question Reference(s): 12602/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
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QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 9 June 2020 and comments by a person (details supplied) in relation to the need to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic issues on an all-Ireland basis, the outcome of recent discussions he has had with members of the Northern Ireland Executive on this important issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) COMMENTS BY DR. GABRIEL SCALLY

REPLY

 

There has been significant engagement between the Ministers for Health, the Chief Medical Officers, and the Departments of Health in Ireland and Northern Ireland throughout this pandemic. There have also been regular ‘Quad’ calls co-chaired the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss the response to COVID-19, which the Ministers of Health for Ireland and Northern Ireland have also attended.

The engagement to date has been very pragmatic and constructive.

The administrations are seeking to adopt similar approaches, where it is appropriate to do so on the advice of respective Chief Medical Officers.

Respective plans for the gradual and controlled easing of restrictions have been discussed given the importance of implementing consistent approaches wherever possible

A Memorandum of Understanding was formally agreed by the Chief Medical Officers of the Department of Health and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland on 7 April to strengthen North South co-operation on the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MOU focuses on facilitating greater co-operation on areas such as: public health messaging, research, programmes of behavioural change, ethics, evidence base/ modelling, and public health and non-pharmaceutical measures.

All parties recognise that in terms of public health measures in both jurisdictions, that it will be important to maintain strong North/South collaborative arrangements and, wherever possible, consistency of approach.

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For Written Answer on : 16/06/2020
Question Number(s): 470 Question Reference(s): 10476/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
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QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Health the discussions there have been with the Minister for Health in Northern Ireland in relation to the development of tracing apps that would be compatible on all of the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

As the Deputy will know a Memorandum of Understanding was formally agreed by the Chief Medical Officers of the Department of Health and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland on Tuesday 7 April. The MOU was entered into on my behalf as Minister for Health and on behalf of the Minister of Health in Northern Ireland to strengthen North South co-operation on the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I have been in ongoing contact with the Minister of Health in Northern Ireland throughout this pandemic in relation to how each health system is implementing various public health responses, including Covid-19 testing and contact tracing. In addition, there has been significant engagement between the CMOs, and officials in both jurisdictions. Both jurisdictions recognise the potential for contact tracing apps to complement manual contact tracing operations and there have been ongoing technical discussions on tracing apps, including examining the issue of interoperability.

Discussions have and will continue to take place on respective plans for the gradual and controlled easing of restrictions, given the importance of implementing consistent approaches, wherever possible. All parties recognise that in terms of public health measures in both jurisdictions, that it will be important to maintain strong North/South collaborative arrangements. The administrations are seeking to adopt similar approaches, where it is appropriate to do so on the advice of respective Chief Medical Officers.

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For Written Answer on : 16/06/2020
Question Number(s): 517 Question Reference(s): 10414/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
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QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of voluntary tracing apps arising from Covid-19; the proposals in relation to the working of such apps at EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

As part of the national response to Covid-19, work is underway to develop a national contact tracing app for Ireland that will help the public health service improve the speed and completeness of contact tracing and to map and predict the spread of Covid-19.

Developing contact tracing capability in mobile phones is a non-trivial engineering and public health exercise.

Development of the contact tracing app for Ireland is now complete and validation testing is underway to prove the functionality of the app in real world scenarios. The app will be released when validation testing is complete, and all appropriate approvals are in place. The results of validation testing will inform the go live date.

Apps are also being developed in many EU countries. Each is tailored to meet the needs of the national public health service and specifically the way in which contact tracing operations has been set up to work.

DG Sante, DG Connect and other key stakeholders at EU level are leading the way in developing interoperability standards to enable national apps to work in other members states, to support EU citizens as they travel between countries. Ireland is actively engaged in these activities through its membership of the EU eHealth network, which is acting as the forum for these discussions and agreements. Last week, the eHealth network agreed to pilot a solution for interoperability between members states using ‘decentralised’ contact tracing apps.

 

 

 

Date: 16 June 2020 at 17:47:10 IST
To: Brendan Smith <Brendan.Smith@oireachtas.ie>
Subject: Dáil Q&A Follow up

 

Dear Deputy

Please see below response to query raised with Minister Harris during recent Dáil Q&A session

Q: Need to address the Covid-19 pandemic issues to the greatest possible extent on an all-Ireland basis. Having a memorandum of understanding between the health Departments North and South is welcome, essential and needs to be built upon.  Are more measures required.  With the gradual re-opening of the economy, North and South, impact/risks on border areas such as Cavan-Monaghan

On the island of Ireland, coordination between the two jurisdictions can make a significant contribution to the management of COVID-19. Close cooperation and, where possible, alignment of public health advice and policy decisions can contribute to more effective management and containment of the virus.

In recent weeks, each jurisdiction has published its plan for the unwinding of social distancing measures and it is most welcome that there is significant common ground between the two documents.

There is ongoing, close engagement with the Northern Ireland authorities in a variety of forums, at both political and official level, both on a North-South basis and as part of broader engagement with the United Kingdom.

The engagement to date has been very pragmatic and constructive.  The administrations are seeking to adopt similar approaches, where it is appropriate to do so on the advice of respective Chief Medical Officers.  This close coordination will continue, and intensify, over the coming weeks as we each move to reopen business and society.
Kind regards

Matthew

__
Matthew O’Gorman
Private Secretary
Minister Harris’ Private Office

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For Written Answer on : 09/06/2020
Question Number(s): 424 Question Reference(s): 10393/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
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QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Health the measures being implemented on an all-island basis following the agreement on a memorandum of understanding between his Department and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY
As the Deputy will know, a Memorandum of Understanding was formally agreed by the Chief Medical Officers of the Department of Health and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland on Tuesday 7 April. The MOU was entered into on my behalf as Minister for Health and on behalf of the Minister of Health in Northern Ireland to strengthen North South co-operation on the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MOU focuses on facilitating greater co-operation and consistency of approach wherever possible on areas such as public health messaging, programmes of behavioural change, evidence base/ modelling and contact tracing.

I have been in ongoing contact with the Minister of Health in Northern Ireland throughout this pandemic in relation to how each health system is implementing various public health responses. In addition, there has been significant engagement between the CMOs, and officials in both jurisdictions.

Calls are held regularly including at a technical level to facilitate information sharing on topics such as modelling, testing and contact tracing approaches, tracing apps and travel measures.

The administrations are seeking to adopt similar approaches, where it is appropriate to do so on the advice of respective Chief Medical Officers. Discussions have and will continue to take place on respective plans for the gradual and controlled easing of restrictions, given the importance of implementing consistent approaches wherever possible. All parties recognise that in terms of public health measures in both jurisdictions, that it will be important to maintain strong North/South collaborative arrangements.