Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 25 September 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Brexit Preparations Update: Discussion

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr Quinn. There is a lot of public concern about the impact on drugs and devices and the messages are mixed. In preparation for this meeting I had a quick look back. On 20 August, the British Medical Journalreported a no-deal Brexit may worsen drug shortages. On 6 September, a headline in The Irish Timesread, "Varadkar rules out food, medicine shortages under no-deal Brexit". Unfortunately for us, on 19 September the British Brexit secretary, Steven Barclay, pointed out that two thirds of our drugs come across the UK by land and that there could be shortages in Ireland. The next day the Government dismissed those warnings. TheBritish Medical Journalis warning, as is the Brexit secretary, but in Ireland these warnings are being dismissed as they relate to us.

We have also had statements made this morning and reported on RTÉ last night that there are risks. Specifically what was picked up was the risk to medical devices. Casual observers and those relying on these drugs and devices hear very conflicting things from very senior sources. Is it the case that two thirds of the drugs come across the UK land bridge? There is a very serious risk to multiple days of disruption to that land bridge and we have no idea how long these delays could go on for. Is it the case that two thirds of the drugs come across the land bridge? If so, which drugs are the highest risks? I accept the witnesses are all trying to do everything they can to mitigate the risks but, understandably, their language is hedging, which it has to and this is not a criticism. Mr. Breslin said Ireland is unlikely to face medicine shortages in the period immediately after but it may face them. The language is couched. Do two thirds of the drugs come across the land bridge? What are the risks? Which drugs are at risk for which type of patients? This morning, we have heard some quite stark warnings about medical devices. Will Mr. Breslin speak to us about which medical devices these are? Are they pacemakers? Are they life-saving medical devices? Are we speaking about more day to day devices such as disposable syringes? What devices are we speaking about? For the drugs and devices that are high risk what type of risks or impact does Mr. Breslin foresee and hope to mitigate against for patients?

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