Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)

I thank the cosponsors for bringing the Bill to Second Stage and all the Deputies for an engaging discussion on the issue. It is an important matter and, as previously stated, the Government fully supports transparency in the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare professionals regarding transfers of value to healthcare professionals or organisations.

It is clear that we all agree on the need for transparency and high ethical standards in healthcare professions. There should be transparency about transactions between commercial interests and healthcare providers. This is the Government's intention and we have measures that place obligations on healthcare professionals as well as the pharmaceutical and medical products industry to achieve this. As outlined earlier by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, such measures include: the Medicinal Products (Control of Advertising) Regulations 2007; the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 to 2001, as amended; professional codes of conduct and ethics for healthcare professionals; voluntary self-regulation; and codes of practice for industry. These measures clearly support accountability and transparency and ultimately promote a high standard of patient care. However, a whole-of-system approach is needed so the public can be assured that healthcare provider recommendations are based solely on clinical evidence and experience. This prioritises the best interests of patients and patient safety. Transparency is important, but it forms only one part of ensuring accountability and ethical collaboration and eliminating conflicts of interest.

The Government appreciates what this Bill aims to achieve, but a broader consideration is needed to achieve this. The Minister for Health supports the broad principles of the Bill and has written to the Joint Committee on Health stating her support for an exploration of transfers of value between the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare practitioners and organisations.

It is necessary that any examination encompass the regulatory and legal aspects in advance of any measures being introduced. Such considerations need to include international experience and best practice, a review of current measures, consideration of the appropriate monitoring of measures to provide assurance on compliance, minimising unintended consequences, opportunities for improvement in an Irish context aligned with best practice findings, and value for money and data protection considerations. It is clear that progress in this area needs to be multipronged and involve engagement with the pharmaceutical sector, medicines agencies and international experts. Our goal should be first to establish best practice, benchmark the existing measures in Ireland against it and consider any improvements that could be achieved. In particular, proportionality of future measures needs to be considered to ensure any sanctions are proportionate to the obligations and that any potential measures are in line with international experience and best practice. Consideration of minimising unintended consequences is also required to ensure any proposed improvements are aligned with best practice.

It is necessary to ensure that any future measures achieve the objectives outlined above and are appropriately aligned with data protection obligations. While the Government is supportive of the broad principles outlined in the Bill, as are key stakeholders, including patients, further and broader consideration is needed in advance of this Bill progressing. The amendment to the motion that seeks to have the Bill read a Second Time in 12 months is to provide the opportunity to see this additional due diligence completed. We should not lose sight of the fact that transparency forms only one part of ensuring accountability and managing conflicts of interest. Our joint goal should be to provide the best care possible for patients and healthcare service users. It is essential that further and broader consideration take place in advance of this Bill progressing. The amendment to the motion will allow for this further consideration and analysis of how the Bill interacts with existing transparency and accountability measures.

I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter, and Deputies Crowe and Ó Murchú for raising the situations regarding muscular dystrophy and the individual cases they already raised with the Tánaiste. I undertake with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, to put our collective shoulders to the wheel on that issue as well.

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