Cabinet has today been notified of the establishment of a cross-departmental ‘One Health’ oversight committee.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien announced the development, which was established “to provide leadership to the One Health approach across the island of Ireland”.
The World Health Organisation defines ‘One Health’ as an “integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems”.
“It inherently recognises that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent,” the WHO definition reads.
The oversight committee’s function is, as stated by a Department of Health announcement, to facilitate cross-departmental collaboration that “enhances public health intelligence” and improves decision-making so that Ireland can “prevent, predict, prepare for and effectively manage health threats”.
According to the department, the committee comes as part of the implementation of Ireland’s Second One Health National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, and follows the “collaborative efforts during Covid-19”.
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said that a One Health approach is essential for “strengthening our ability to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats”.
“This approach is vital for protecting public health, supporting animal health and food security, and preserving biodiversity and our shared environment,” she said.
Meanwhile, Climate Minister Darragh O’Brien said that as Ireland’s climate changes, “we’re seeing a variety of new disease risks”.
“The establishment of the One Health Oversight Committee is a positive development in helping us manage emerging health threats,” he said.
The committee is co-chaired by Chief Medical Officer, Professor Mary Horgan; Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr June Fanning; and Barry Quinlan, Assistant Secretary General for Climate and Environment.
“Its membership includes senior leaders from various sectors and includes the National Parks and Wildlife Service; Health Service Executive; Food Safety Authority of Ireland; Safefood, Uisce Éireann, academic representation, Environmental Protection Agency and the Northern Ireland Chief Medical Officer and Chief Veterinary Officer,” according to a spokesperson for the Department of Health.
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