Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, for moving swiftly on the issue of pensions in Independent News & Media. That is the type of action one expects from a Government Minister. However, while he is to be congratulated for it, that should not be seen as endorsing him as leader of the Fine Gael Party or the like.

Senator Mark Daly spoke about Orkambi and I am aware that people are travelling from all over the country to protest outside the Dáil today. I will not get into the debate on Orkambi, as it has been well outlined by my colleague. However, recently I visited Spain where I met a former colleague who happens to be on blood pressure tablets. He told me that he had bought his year's supply of those tablets for €14.95. The same tablets cost him €1,100 here.

We are members of the European Union. Why in God's name are we not centrally managing drugs and drug purchases at EU level, rather than individual member states trying to manage it? The type of costs involved with Orkambi are absolutely massive. I accept that drug companies must be able to get a return on their investment, but why must this poor little country suffer every time when it is part of a much larger economic community? If the EU can manage agriculture and manage fisheries, badly, for this country, along with managing all sorts of other things, surely it should be able to manage the drugs industry and ensure there is a standard cost across Europe, instead of there being different costs in different places. People tell me it is cheaper to book a flight to Lanzarote, buy their drugs for the year there and come home with change in their pocket than to pay what they are being charged for them in this country. I am sure that is not all due to the chemists. I commend the people who try to negotiate a reasonable price for drugs in this country, albeit I am deeply saddened that the Orkambi issue has not been resolved as it is having a serious impact on families.