Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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843. To ask the Minister for Health the amount spent annually on medical devices and products that are purchased from the UK; if arrangements are in place to continue purchasing such items and products; if his attention has been drawn to potential issues with such purchases that may arise due to Brexit; the consequences of these impacts for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45011/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health, the HSE and the Health Products Regulatory Authority, together with the makers of medicines and medical devices, wholesalers and pharmacists, are continually working to review the supply of medicines and medical devices to Ireland to anticipate and respond to, in so far as is possible, any potential vulnerabilities in medical device supply as a consequence of Brexit.

As part of this coordinated response, all stakeholders are committed to developing approaches and implementing contingencies to address any identified concerns. The HSE, the Department of Health and the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) are working together to assess the supply of medical devices to Ireland, identify any potential vulnerabilities, and take appropriate steps to mitigate any potential risk posed by Brexit.

The HSE has been working directly with suppliers of medical devices to develop approaches and implement contingencies to address any identified concerns.