Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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714. To ask the Minister for Health if she will report on the visit of the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health to Denmark and Sweden for St. Patrick's Day; the meetings she attended, the issues that were discussed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13403/25]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I was pleased to represent Ireland in Denmark and Sweden as part of the St. Patrick’s Day 2025 Ministerial visits programme, with an opportunity to engage on trade, health policy and the diaspora. It was an opportunity to reinforce Ireland’s very positive bilateral relationship with Denmark and Sweden, underlining our government’s strong commitment to the region, as outlined in the Nordic-Baltic strategy.

My programme included mental health, trade, political and Irish community engagements and here is a summary of the engagements:

Denmark

• Reception with 25 Irish companies taking part in the UN International Procurement Seminar.
• Visit to UN City to formally launch Ireland’s participation in the UN International Procurement Seminar 2025.
• Meeting with Dr Ledia Lazeri, Regional Adviser for Mental Health, WHO Europe.
• Meeting with Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
• Meeting with Professor Merete Nordentoft, OPUS Mental Health services (clinical treatment and research).
• Dinner with members of the Irish community (including the newly established Irish Culture Association of Denmark)

• Inaugural meeting of the Swedish-Irish Parliamentary Friendship Group at Riksdaghuset.
• Karlolinska Psychiatry Research Centre – meeting and presentations of research on mental health currently underway.
• Meeting with the clinical team at the Karolinska Institute ECMO Ward (which has provided treatment for Irish babies).
• Launch Ireland Nordic Forum and engagement with the business community.
• Meeting with Embassy, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia teams in Sweden, alongside Ireland Nordic Forum participants.
• Meeting with Sweden’s Minister for Health, Jakob Forssmed.
• Meeting with Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner (the organisation for all municipalities and regions providing healthcare).
• Meeting with the Stockholm Region Psychiatry Committee.