Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mention was also made of sharing information with other countries. We have a unique relationship with the North of Ireland. Co-operation is in place right across the health system, education and concerning people working in Border areas who travel back and forth, etc. Is it envisaged that the systems in the North, which is under the NHS, and our own system will in future allow people to have access? I remember travelling to the US several years ago and discovering that no matter where American veterans are in the world, if they go to a veteran's hospital, they can get their complete files. I presume the idea we are contemplating is that if I get sick an hour up the road, my information would be available in the hospitals in the North, despite them being in a different jurisdiction. Is this seen as the way forward in this regard? Are we having these discussions? How advanced is this process?