Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am in favour of this proposal as put forward by the Leader of the House. We have the proposal from the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs on this matter. It is important that any proposals coming from Europe are highlighted at an early stage here in order that we know what is coming down the road, not only today but what may be coming in the next two or three years. While joint committees are effective in may ways, some of them have a considerable schedule of work. This approach is working effectively on European matters in the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The whole focus in agriculture is on what is coming down the road under the Common Agricultural Policy proposals and the amendment to and reforms of that policy.

I sit on the Joint Committee on Health and Children. We have a considerable agenda relating to what is happening in the health care area. We already sat three full days here in January dealing with one tranche of legislation and we are now facing into another three days. I imagine there are issues relating to health which are being dealt with at European level that the health committee does not have the time to deal with.

I made a point at the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs today relating to medical devices. We were to give the stamp of approval to what was being proposed. I raised a simple question about whether there had been any consultation with the industry involved in manufacturing medical devices. In fact there had been no consultation and when it was referred to people involved in the industry, they had concerns about what was bring proposed at European level. This is where the Seanad, as one of the Houses of the Oireachtas, could highlight issues and make people aware of them. People may wish to get involved in their organisations in putting forward their views before they get to the final stages at European level. This House could be used as an effective mechanism for airing the views of Members and for focusing on and making information available to the public. I believe the House can be used effectively in this way. The medical area is vast, in particular the area of how drugs and medications work across 27 member states, as is the area of the development of new drugs to ensure that we have a cost-effective mechanism.

I have often referred to the huge variation in the price of drugs in Ireland compared with other European countries. Why should we not focus more on how we can lower prices to what other European countries pay for medication? It is something on which we need to work.

Another medical issue is research, in terms of a joint approach between member states and the need to work together on certain areas. It is interesting to note that in the past six weeks, UCC received €6 million from Europe for a research project on health care. It is not just UCC which is involved. A number of other countries are also involved in research. There is a sharing of information in order that research can develop much faster, which is also very important. The House and the Oireachtas should highlight what is happening in Europe and allow a window of opportunity to be given to people to become aware of what is happening. It is something for which the House should be used far more effectively. I agree with Senator Leyden on that matter.

The committee has set out its programme. I welcome the fact it has highlighted what is on it and that we are all familiar with it. It is important we support the proposal.