The importance of the Shared Island initiative regarding health services was brought to the fore during Dail proceedings this week.
Cavan Monaghan TD Brendan Smith believes it will provide additional health capacity across the border region.
In a question to Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Deputy Smith said the move would benefit communities on both sides of the border.
He added that the delivery of acute hospital services on a cross-Border basis could see South-West Hospital in Enniskillen co-operating with Sligo.
Cavan and Monaghan hospitals could work in tandem in the north east.
And, Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, could cooperate with hospitals in Drogheda and Dundalk.
"We need others to participate in this; we need the Northern health authorities to participate in this," Deputy Smith continued.
"We had participated in this through investment and, likewise, the Northern Executive in the past agreed on a cardiac service for children.
"I think we can do more in respect of health services across the Border and that is something I would like to expand even more.
"The community application of information technology, CAWT initiative, has been effective and I will engage with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Minister for Health in that regard.”
The Taoiseach, meanwhile, highlighted how it was possible for local hospitals to operate on a regional basis "in the fullness of time".
