Mr. Jim Breslin:

I shall ask a representative of the HPRA, the regulator, to talk about that but I will give a general overview because we have been at this a long time. The original concern was that people did not believe Brexit would happen and that, while there was a lot of talk about it, something would come to the rescue. Without being facetious, I believe some of the developments in recent months have taken from the complacency. People have been very exercised this year in seeing Brexit as a real threat, not only to the public health sector but also to their businesses. They have also been exercised by the need to get that sorted.

In the final preparations, particularly where there will be significant costs, people have done a lot of work up to the final trigger and have been operating on the basis that a deal might be arrived at. The important point is that they be ready to make any changes they need to make and do so on a timely basis. We have been stressing the importance of planning and doing so as speedily as possible, rather than working on the basis that something will come to the rescue and that it will all go away. The latter presumption is not a safe one in any contingency planning. I ask Dr. Nolan to talk about the detailed engagement.