Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I too wish to be associated with the votes of sympathy to the families of the fishermen drowned in west Cork and to the family of Aengus Fanning, an outstanding journalist who transformed the face of Irish media. In light of the competitive pressures being brought to bear by international media moguls, it is a tribute to him that the Sunday Independent continues to enjoy such commercial success.

It is a shame that Mr. Rivlin, the Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, has left the House. Mr. Rivlin's views on Ireland's position on the Middle East process have been quoted in the national media. I had a brief exchange with him in the antechamber this morning where I took the opportunity to stress that while there is enormous sympathy for and empathy with the sufferings of the Palestinian people, that should not be interpreted as proof that all Irish people are anti-Israeli. Many of us, including me, are strongly of the view that Israel has every right to exist within democratic and viable borders, just as the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination. The Government is focused on that balancing act in its engagement on the Middle East, and the Tánaiste is following a proud tradition in that regard.

Senators Walsh and Crown referred to the ending of patents in the pharmaceutical industry. Together with several Oireachtas colleagues, I was privileged to have been briefed on this issue by management at Abbott Laboratories in Sligo last week. The company employs several thousand staff in various locations across Ireland and is an important driver of job creation. In the context of expiring patents, the company representatives said they were increasingly emphasising research and development and pointed to several trials currently under way which they hope will result in the development of viable commercial drugs.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, to address this challenging issue on the next occasion on which he comes to the House? We must increase investment in research and development, particularly in the pharmaceutical area, and we must work to encourage new and existing pharmaceutical companies to convert their production lines into producing generic drugs. It has already been suggested that the Pfizer plant in Cork, at which employment will be lost due to the ending of patents, may possibly be taken over by an international company which will produce generic drugs. This is relevant in the context of the debate we will have on job creation. I ask the Minister to outline the Government's policy on increased investment for research and development and how it proposes to protect jobs in the pharmaceutical industry once patents run out.