Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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529. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has estimated the cost of maintaining the European Health Insurance Card, EHIC, for Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland, post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39815/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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530. To ask the Minister for Health the work done by his Department to date on the maintenance of the European Health Insurance Card, EHIC, benefits for Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland, post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39816/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 530 together.

It is a priority for the Government to ensure that the rights of Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland will be protected through the withdrawal process of the UK from the European Union. In particular, the Government prioritised the protection of the Good Friday Agreement and the maintenance of the Common Travel Area for the withdrawal negotiations.

My Department and its agencies have been conducting analysis on the impacts of Brexit in the area of health. A number of issues, including matters relating to European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), are being examined. The Department is working closely with the Health Service Executive, which has operational responsibility for the EHIC, to examine proposals on the maintenance of the EHIC benefits for Irish Citizens living in Northern Ireland post Brexit.

 I am confident that our EU partners understand the priority placed by Ireland on the protection of the rights of Irish citizens, in the context of our unique circumstances. The Government was pleased at the strong affirmation in the EU's negotiating directives that the fact that Irish citizens residing in Northern Ireland will continue to enjoy rights as EU citizens will be taken into account in the Withdrawal Agreement. This is also reflected in the European Commission Task Force paper on Guiding Principles for Ireland/Northern Ireland.