Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Connor for his comprehensive presentation. On the cross-border health care directive, the figures show that something like 86% of those reimbursed were treated in the UK. The UK health system is facing a lot of challenges at the moment. There has been a huge reduction in the number of nurses coming into the system since the vote on Brexit. Is it possible that, should the UK health system come under pressure in the future, they would prioritise the care of their own citizens? Could Ireland suffer as a result? I am aware of the numbers and that some 1,741 were reimbursed in 2017, which is a very small number in the overall context of the UK health system. However, it appears that the UK health system will have challenges.

Are the Department of Health and various medical organisations in this country doing anything to look at alternatives to the UK system? We seem to have a huge reliance on it where care is not available here. There is a great deal of sub-specialisation going on now in every area of health care. Maybe we should be considering other jurisdictions as regards developing important connections. We are very focused on the UK in the area of transplants, for instance. That is always a challenging area. Are we making any effort to make direct links with any other health care systems for instance in Germany, France, Belgium or the Netherlands?

There are many doctors and nurses in the Irish system who at some stage in their careers have either worked or trained in the UK. Could there be a change in that regime in respect of training? I am aware of the whole common travel area issue. How might Brexit affect the supply of medical practitioners? We are facing major challenges in that area in Ireland, as is the UK. Are there connections between the various educational bodies and institutes of medical practitioners? Do they envisage any changes because of Brexit?

Following on from Deputy Murphy O'Mahony's question on the issue of drug supply, the Irish population is very small compared to that of Germany or the UK. We are very much tied to the UK in respect of the supply of drugs. Once the UK is outside the European Union - provided that is what will happen - will the pharmaceutical companies approach the British market differently? Could the Irish health system lose out in the process? Has there been any discussion of that challenge with pharmaceutical companies? Even simple things like packaging might be affected if what we get is geared towards the English market.