Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs for addressing this Commencement matter on the European health insurance card, EHIC. To be fair to him, he is always keen to come in to address Commencement debates on this issue, so I am appreciative of that.

I also acknowledge that there has been a lot of engagement on this issue in recent weeks. I noted the Minister's remarks on it at the recent meeting of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I suppose that, 57 days out from Brexit, we have had a series of commitments and I think what people expect to see now is an outline of the mechanical, practical opportunities to retain the EU rights and entitlements that they have been promised they will be able to retain.

As the Minister is well aware because he will have heard it extensively in his engagements in the North, the EHIC is probably something that cuts across all the demographics and communities in the North. It is something that everyone going on holidays has availed of regularly. It is a very symbolic wee thing. It is a bit like the passport, in that it is a symbolic representation of being a European citizen and being entitled to access EU rights.

Like many people, I was very heartened and encouraged to hear remarks from the Government in April last year indicating that it would be prepared to cover the cost of retaining the EHIC for all citizens in the North. That is a very important step and I support it. I want to afford the Government an opportunity to speak through the Seanad to people in the North to give them another opportunity and platform to hear the practical steps being taken above and beyond that very important and sincere promise.