Mr. Tony O'Brien:

There are differences. The regulatory approaches to pharmaceuticals operate in some respects at European level and in other respects at national level. The Health Products Regulatory Authority, which is an Irish entity, is the licensing body for any pharmaceutical that can be supplied or sold in the Republic of Ireland.

Their requirements are specific, which is why the packaging of products sold here meet these standards, as do information leaflets. The indications approved are sometimes different in different member states and it is the HPRA which determines whether products are interchangeable for the purposes of reference pricing. The net effect of what we have done in terms of the IPHA agreement which, as Mr. Mulvany said, is performing against its objectives and reference pricing is to implement the policy parameters determined by the Government and legislation. We are giving effect to the policy intent of the Government and the legislative process.