David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 705: To ask the Minister for Health if the directive on cross-border health care, that was adopted by the European Council and the European Parliament in February 2011, has been transposed into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8135/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Directive on the Application of Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare was published in the EU Official Journal on 4th April 2011 and the transposition period of 30 months commenced on 24th April 2011. Member States have until October 2013 to implement the Directive. The purpose of this patient-focussed Directive is to establish a clear legal framework to facilitate cross border healthcare with a focus on patient rights, information for patients on entitlements and patient choice. This will require all Member States to put in place processes to allow for the exchange of information on treatments, and their cost, to citizens across the EU. Member States will also have to facilitate the exchange of patient information following treatment and put in place mechanisms to refund patients up to the amount the treatment would have cost them to have received the same procedure in their own Member State.

Given the complexity of the issues to be considered, both nationally and between Member States, it is envisaged that the transposition of the Directive into Irish law will be completed within the transposition time frame of October 2013.