Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----interpretation of what is in the media. I did not interrupt the Deputy. I want to make it very clear that I have had discussions with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister about variants as far back as variant B117. Our Chief Medical Officer has had discussions with Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer in respect of B117, which is one of the earliest variants and one we all know too much about because of the degree to which it spread so rapidly here, in the North and the rest of the UK, and now elsewhere across Europe. If I am not mistaken, everyone has acknowledged that the relationship between both sets of officials, North and South, has been constructive and productive.

The main area of difficulty has concerned travel information in terms of the passenger locater form information. We took steps to be satisfied in this regard. Requests were made of the Northern Ireland Executive in regard to it. A memorandum of understanding between the two Chief Medical Officers has been signed. They engage regularly in respect of decisions they are taking. On the political side, so too do the Executive and Irish Government. The Minister for Health here, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, has engaged with Mr. Robin Swann, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, has also engaged with political leaders in Northern Ireland. I engage in discussions with Ms Arlene Foster and Ms Michelle O'Neill at various times on aspects and dimensions of Covid.