James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for their contributions. As has been pointed out, the directive will be implemented by statutory instrument. I think North-South co-operation in health has been advanced significantly in the past couple of years. The Northern Ireland Health Minister, Edwin Poots, MLA, and I see eye to eye on many issues which we are trying to advance. As has been pointed out by a number of speakers, we not only have to deal with North-South politics but with medical politics in the various hospitals. That is not unique to either south or north of the Border. We are concerned about the health of people on both sides of the Border. There is clear understanding between Mr. Poots and me and between our fellow Ministers in Europe that illness and disease are no respecters of either politics or borders. That is the reason we seek to ensure that we co-operate in a way that will maximise the services that are of benefit to people on both sides of our borders, not just on this island but across Europe. I thank them for their co-operation.

I thank Members for their support and I look forward to implementing the directive.