Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think Senator Swanick understands better than most that it is not a decision for politicians. The House made that decision in 2013 when the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act was passed by both Houses. It was agreed that politicians would not decide what drugs would be reimbursed and what prices would be paid to drug companies. I agree with that.I do not think politicians should make those decisions. The Senator has a number of questions. I respectfully suggest that he refers to the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, which will answer each of his five questions, or at least four of them. If there are any specific questions, it would be more appropriate to direct them to the HSE because neither I nor the Minister have any role or function in this process. That has been a decision taken by the House. The Senator said price should never be a barrier when it comes to the health of children. The State is not going to approach drug companies, which are part of a multi-billion euro industry, with that mantra and suggest that price will never a barrier to approving any drug. That would be reckless, irresponsible and dangerous in the extreme. As these are powerful multinational companies - multi-billion euro companies - that have a lot to gain, there is a healthy tension there that demands time and necessitates things being done properly and a process that is held up to scrutiny, transparency, clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness because, as the Senator and all of us here are aware, there are many competing demands on the limited resources that are available to the HSE on an annual basis for the delivery of services.