Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There has been significant public comment on and interest in the relatively high cost of prescription drugs, the affordability of high-tech drugs to treat rare diseases and the rate of penetration of generic drugs in Ireland. Historically, the cost of branded pharmaceuticals has been considerably higher in Ireland. At various stages the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Department of Health have publicly highlighted the cost issue in respect of Irish-patented and generic drugs relative to our European counterparts. The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 was introduced to address the comparatively high price of drugs by introducing reference pricing and the better labelling of generic substitutions.

The purpose of today’s hearings is to examine the cost of pharmaceutical drugs, the effectiveness of reference pricing and generic substitution. The joint committee will hold two sessions to hear evidence from a range of stakeholders representing both branded and generic pharmaceuticals, the Irish Pharmacy Union, alternative pharmaceutical suppliers and others. The committee has received communications from one pharmaceutical company which has refused to attend the committee. Separately, the committee will receive a briefing from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. The committee intends to prepare a report examining the effectiveness of the initiatives taken in this area, with reviewing the testimony of delegates, before it makes recommendations to the Oireachtas and the Minister for Health.

I welcome from the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association Dr. Leisha Daly, president, and Mr. Oliver O’Connor, chief executive; from the Irish Pharmacy Union Ms Kathy Maher, president, and Mr. Darragh O’ Loughlin, secretary general; from Teva Pharmaceuticals Ireland Ms Sandra Gannon, general manager, and Ms Aideen Kenny, head of commercial operations.

They are all welcome and I thank them for attending. I remind them that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I ask the delegates to keep their contributions to seven minutes. Their contributions will be followed by questions from members. If necessary, responses can be supplemented by delegates by way of written submissions if members cannot receive answers to their questions. I ask Ms Maher to make her opening remarks.