Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests today. Of course it is a critical area. I will start by asking a question, which was addressed to a slight extent by Mr. Delaney, on the adjustments by Commissioner Šefovi to allow medicines and pharmaceutical products to enter Northern Ireland unchecked now as part of the practical adjustments to the protocol. I note Mr. Delaney did refer to it and I presume that this will be of enormous assistance and will get over a major problem that was anticipated. Mr Delaney might elaborate further on that.

Obviously, it is great that we do not have domestic issues within the Republic but on the Border counties in particular, we feel a duty of care for and an affinity with Northern Ireland. While it is good news that we do not have shortfalls or threatened shortages, it is also good news that the problem in Northern Ireland could now be mitigated by the latest initiative from the EU Commission.

While today's meeting specifically concern Brexit, in the context of vaccines, the witnesses might comment on the TRIPS waiver. How important it is for the pharmaceutical industry not to have a TRIPS waiver or is that the case? If it is important not to have one, why and how more efficacious is it not to have a TRIPS waiver? I have heard the argument put in another forum recently to the effect that a lot of taxpayer money, right across the EU, has gone into the research to create the vaccines. While there is a profit element for the pharmaceutical industry, to which we have no objection per se, by virtue of the fact that it is taxpayers' money that has gone into creating the vaccines researching them, then surely there is a right to have a TRIPS waiver and to get the vaccines to the underdeveloped world. It might not be totally germane to today's meeting but it is a relevant question while we have the witnesses here.

Before I ask my last question I will make the point that the pharmaceutical sector is of tremendous importance to the Irish economy and all of us in the Oireachtas are acutely aware that. We value that and do not in any sense take it for granted. With regard to prescription drugs such as opioids like tramadol for pain and so on, does the sector have much evidence of addiction to prescription drugs? It is not something one would want obviously, but has this been put to the sector at all within Ireland? I am aware that it could be a European problem and we all know it to be an American problem, albeit improving in recent times. Will Mr. Delaney comment on the degree to which he is aware of addiction to prescription drugs? What would the pharmaceutical sector be doing by way of social engineering, investment, or support to eliminate that problem? What are the exercises there? Perhaps the witnesses would also comment on non-prescription drugs but I am more specifically interested in to prescription drugs.

On the very specific Brexit question, am I correct in thinking that the recent initiative by the Commission would solve the supply problem in Northern Ireland? As a consequence, is it correct also that the position in the Republic, where we do not have shortfalls, would continue?

I thank our guests; it is very worthwhile to have them here.