Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union

Cross-Border Healthcare Directive: Discussion (Resumed)

Photo of Robbie GallagherRobbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I thank Mr. Delaney and Mr. O'Brien for taking time out of their busy schedules to be with us The information they are providing us with is most beneficial. I thank them for their work on the supply of medicines to such an extent that has not been, and is not, a problem for us in the Republic of Ireland, thankfully. I acknowledge their work in that respect.

With regard to our friends and cousins in Northern Ireland, unfortunately, the picture, as presented by the witnesses, is not as rosy. I was interested to hear from Mr. Delaney that the Northern Ireland market only amounts to 3% of the entire UK market. Perhaps that is a statement in itself, along with all the others. Like Senator O'Reilly, I am interested in the witnesses' take on the impact of the EU Commission's most recent work. It seems to be a step in the right direction, but it still appears that there is some way to go. It can be impossible to put a timeframe on this, but how far away are we from resolving the issues? Are we 70% or 80% of the way there?

From our perspective in the Republic, I believe Mr. O'Brien stated that heretofore we attached ourselves to the UK for the purpose of purchasing medicines. In respect of the Covid vaccine, we hitched our wagon to the EU and it proved successful. Is the fact that we cannot collaborate, as it were, with the UK authorities an issue for us now? Where does that leave us going forward? Do we hitch our wagon to the EU train in respect of medicines? What is our pathway forward?

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