Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The answer to the Deputy's last question is that the company can make the drug available to those persons who might benefit from it if it so wishes. The drug is not available in the Irish public health system because of the excessive charge being levied by Vertex.

I accept that transparency and collaborative negotiations are necessary. Why does Deputy Adams think that the Minister, Deputy Harris, wrote to his fellow Ministers in other countries where the drug is not available in their public health systems? He did so in order that they can get together, talk sense to the company and tell it X number of people in a given country suffer from cystic fibrosis whose quality of life would be enhanced by this drug. There are a percentage of people in Ireland aged over 12 years for whom it would not be of any benefit.

The decision was made by the clinical professor involved; it is not just a political decision. It is not a case of directing the company to reduce its charge. Rather, as the Deputy said, collaborative negotiations and transparency are required.

The point made by Professor Barry, who is an expert in this field, is that the charge being levied by the company is grossly excessive and it should retreat from that. I and the Minister have already said that the HSE and Department are prepared to negotiate with realism. I hope collaborative negotiations with other Ministers for Health will bring a sense of realism to the company. We congratulate it on having manufactured the drug. We need to be able to give it to those whom it would benefit, but not at any price.

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