Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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512. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on his visit to the European Medicines Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3941/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The European Medicines Agency plays a vital role in the protection and promotion of public health through the evaluation and supervision of medicines for human and veterinary use. The result of the Brexit vote has caused considerable uncertainty for the Agency and its staff as it will have to be relocated to a country remaining within the European Union. This scenario creates real risks for the EMA and its stakeholders – foremost, European citizens and the industries which the Agency regulates.

The Government believes that it will be important to address the question of the Agency’s future location relatively early in the Brexit process. It is important that the selection of a new host country is informed by clear and careful consideration of the requirements which will need to be met in order to ensure continuity of the EMA’s activities and a sustainable future for the Agency. It will be particularly important to maximise the retention of the EMA staff whose expertise and skills have been key to Agency’s development over the last 20 years and to the standing which it enjoys as a regulator at a global level.

In October the Government decided to propose Dublin as a new home for the EMA. An interdepartmental/interagency working group led by my Department was established to prepare a proposal.

Last week I visited the EMA in London in order to better understand the workings of the Agency and the challenges it will face as a result of Brexit. I met the Executive Director, Professor Guido Rasi, and key members of his team. It was agreed that we would not speak publicly about the content of those discussions.

Work is continuing on Ireland’s proposal to host the EMA and I will travel to Brussels next week for discussions with a range of stakeholders.