The establishment of the cross-departmental One Health Oversight Committee has been announced by Health Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Agriculture Food and the Marine Minister, Martin Heydon and the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien.
One Health recognises that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment, including ecosystems, are closely linked and interdependent.
The Committee was established to provide leadership to the One Health approach across the island of Ireland by facilitating collaboration and co-operation to systematically strengthen capacity and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, both within and beyond the health sector.
It is co-chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Mary Horgan, the 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.
Its function is to facilitate collaboration that enhances public health intelligence and improve evidence for decision-making so that Ireland can prevent, predict, prepare for and effectively manage health threats.
Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, said, “Integrating a One Health approach into our national policy framework is important 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.
“We all share this responsibility, and I am grateful to my ministerial colleagues for their support and cooperation in this initiative. I am pleased to have our Chief Medical Officer Prof. Mary Horgan as co-chair of the Oversight Committee, which underscores the importance of strong public health leadership in this collaborative, cross-sectoral effort.”
The World Health Organization 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”.
