David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will support the amendment but I just want to make a point about the substance of the section, which relates to having medicine shortage protocols in place. I have been looking for this for some time and have engaged with the Minister of State on it. If I am correct, the provisions relate to medicinal product shortages by facilitating the implementation of a framework for medicine substitution protocols. That is obviously important given the discussion we had earlier. Mr. O'Connor was talking about supply chains and the relationship between us and the European Union and how all that is interconnected. This is very worthwhile and is long overdue. There is an issue at the moment with the supply chain for medicines, as we know. The Irish Pharmacy Union has been lobbying all of us for some time to put in place such a protocol, and the quicker it is in place, the better.

It could be argued my next point is unrelated to the Bill but I would like to get a steer on it from either the Minister of State or her officials. An important European Union directive, regarding intellectual property rights in respect of medicines, is the subject of debate at the moment. The proposal, as I understand it, is to reduce the period of data exclusivity of IP for new products and medicines from eight years to six years. The industry, obviously, has its view and we as a State have to take our view. I understand that in all these issues, we have to look through a wider lens. The industry will look at it through its own lens but we have to look at it through a wider lens. I would imagine the logic of the directive is to have greater access to generic drugs, which we also need, but there is a need for caution on the part of the State. The pharmaceutical sector, as we know, is very important to the Irish economy. It creates a lot of jobs and a lot of high-tech drugs are produced in Ireland, as we know. The industry would say a great deal of investment goes into producing these drugs in the first instance and, obviously, it wants to protect what is there. I am not giving a view at this stage in terms of what I would like to see but I would like some sense from the officials or the Minister of State, if she is in a position to give it, as to what the Government's approach is because my understanding is this could very quickly reach the floor of the European Parliament. Industry has, as I said, been raising serious concerns about it and I am interested in hearing the response of the officials.