Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Our relationship with our sister country of Scotland is a unique one. It was the Men of Ulster, or Ulaidh, who first established the Scottish kingdom. Throughout the Middle Ages, Irish people were referred to as "Scots". What practical steps will happen in terms of co-operation? I know that the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, are establishing a joint health forum. The Scottish have a national health system, because they have Scotland's NHS. What can happen in a practical way in that area? Scotland has an outstanding track record in education. The Tánaiste might have seen recently the University of St. Andrews was given the title of the best university in the world. The Scottish have a separate legal system as well. Scottish MSPs and civil servants attended a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight. They told us about their innovative programme for gender budgeting and other initiatives. What definitive help will we give to them, particularly in the context of us being an independent member of the European Union and their hope to have the same status?

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