Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We need to engage with our colleagues around Europe. Some countries are making efforts to avail of the benefits of the European market but for some unknown reason that has not gained traction and we have heard all the excuses. It has been the same old story for the past 20 or 30 years. That should not be; we should be able to record progress. It would be in the interests of the pharmaceutical companies if they want to supply a big market such as the United States and Europe, which is bigger than the US by a long shot. We need to encourage them in that direction in so far as we can. The European Commission needs to do that as well. There is an opportunity for us to engage with our European colleagues on this issue because we have all believed for a long time that there is no other way to achieve this for patients who need particular treatment, other than through the benefit of the power of the European market. It cannot be done. Some pharmaceutical companies have larger budgets than some small countries in Europe.