Health Secretary assures Stormont over vaccine supplies after EU export imposed controls

By Q Radio news

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has spoken to his counterpart in Northern Ireland, Robin Swann, over the supply of coronavirus vaccines after the EU imposed export controls.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “The Health Secretary and minister of health for Northern Ireland had a constructive discussion on the supply of Covid-19 vaccines.”

Meanwhile a former politician in Irish premier Micheal Martin’s Fianna Fail party said the Taoiseach was furious at the EU’s abandoned move to override part of the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland.

Just finished a very useful meeting with @MattHancock.

It's essential confidence and trust is rebuilt after yesterday’s actions by the EU.

We need certainty that essential vaccine supplies will always be able to travel freely to NI, both now and in the future.

— Robin Swann MLA : #StopCovidNI (@RobinSwannMoH) January 30, 2021

Ex-Europe minister Dick Roche told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The action doesn’t make any sense at all and it has clearly embarrassed the Irish Government, which was blindsided.

“I understand that Micheal Martin was very annoyed at it, that he made very strong representations to the (European) Commission.”

(Health Secretary Matt Hancock)