Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thank you, Dr. Hogan and Dr. Woods. I have two questions that you might be able to address. One relates to the last comment you made, Dr. Hogan, in respect of the potential for the North-South Ministerial Council and the context of where we are now in terms of UK-Irish relations and the reliance on the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council and the various other forums for discussion and agreement. Is North-South Ministerial Council the best way to replace the ongoing discussion at ministerial level? What do you imagine would be needed to expand that role?

My second question relates to a comment we heard earlier from representatives of the INMO. They referred to the European Medicines Agency, the ultimate relocation from London to somewhere else and the ongoing bid from Dublin to attract the EMA to Dublin.

We know what the positive impacts of that, from the perspectives of both employment and the economy, on the region would be but if it was to come to Dublin, what would it mean, either positively or negatively, to either organisation and those they represent? Does either of my colleagues want to add anything to that?