Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On Deputy Maloney's question, I am advised by the NTP that it plans on doing the health technology assessment in the first quarter of 2016, with a view to making a recommendation report in the second quarter. I will ask for that to be expedited, although there are other technologies and drugs in the pipeline also. However, it is important that everyone is treated equally and that no one group is given priority over another disease group. That would be unfair, but I know that is not what the Deputy is asking for. When the report is presented, the evidence will be assessed to see if it stacks up and a fair price will be calculated. This will then go to the HSE national drugs committee which will then try to negotiate a fair price for the medicine.

Deputy Coppinger referred to the possibility that the HSE may have prejudged the decision. I have spoken to the director general about that matter and we both agree this should not be prejudged and that the new technology and medicine should get a fair hearing and assessment, as has been the case in the past for any other new technology. Therefore, it is not being ruled out without being assessed properly. I am happy to clarify that is not the case. The Deputy asked what value the Government puts on the lives of people. The only fair thing for the Government to do is to put an equal value on the life of everyone. That is the only way resources can possibly be apportioned. Even the richest and most socialist countries in the world have limited resources. The important thing is to treat everybody equally and to value every life equally.

I totally agree with her on the conduct of the drug companies. We know what they do. They overcharge and use patients as pawns. In some countries - not here to the best of my knowledge - they even hire PR companies to coach and encourage patients to advocate on their behalf. I do not believe that has happened here, but it has allegedly happened in other countries. These people also pay themselves massive salaries, draw down massive profits and pay massive dividends. They are people whose bonus every year is based on how much they can overcharge a small country. They target small countries and get the small country to set the high price and then offer bigger countries slight discounts. This is a case of greed incorporated. While I am not a socialist, dealing with some of these companies would bring out whatever socialist instincts may be buried in me.

I believe that in the future these matters should be dealt with at European level and that we should task the European Medicines Agency with the role of deciding which drugs should be reimbursed and then use the buying power of a Union of 500 million people to ensure we get a fair price so that we can treat more people. Perhaps we could then set aside some funds to do some of the other things raised here today.

Finally, as the last man standing today on this the last day of the session and the last sitting of the year, I believe it is customary to say a few words of thanks to Deputies, ushers and the staff of the House. It has been a busy and interesting year and much good work has been done. On behalf of the Government and the whole House, I want to extend sincere thanks to all the staff of this building for the hard work they have done in the past year. I wish them all a very happy Christmas and a good new year.

See this speech in context