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

As I said, the intention is to continue this on an administrative basis first and then to see if we can introduce legislation to underpin it. Essentially, officials in the Department of Health are giving detailed consideration to the implementation of a unilateral cross-border directive type of arrangement. It cannot be the same because the UK is no longer in the European Union and it does not have to reciprocate. The cross-border directive gave entitlements to citizens to go into other European countries, get treatments and for those to be reimbursed afterwards, if the public health system here could not provide them. That falls when the UK leaves.

I acknowledge that approximately 7,700 have availed of the scheme. We do not want people shut off, particularly those in the Border counties where it is used to a greater degree. There will be a unilateral type of scheme or arrangement which will provide that Irish residents can continue to access services provided by private health service providers in the UK post the end of the transition period. We will continue on an administrative basis and then underpin it with legislation.

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