The Minister for Health and Children has arrived in Malaga this evening for informal gathering of EU Health Ministers to discuss the impact of EU rulings on European social security and health systems.
The meetings were arranged by the Spanish Presidency as follow-up to a Health Council in Brussels last November.
Recent EC judgments have held that member states can organise social security systems and determine the conditions under which patients receive benefits as long as certain conditions are fulfilled.
The issues will also be discussed at an EU conference on 31st May/1st June next.
This evening Mr Mícheál Martin will attend a dinner after he meets with Minister for Health and Consumer Affairs, Ms Celia Villalobaos.
Tomorrow, the meetings will continue for most of the day and the Minister is due to return for the weekend.
