Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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713. To ask the Minister for Health for an update in relation to his Department’s activities at the EPSCO (Health) Council on 21 June 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29253/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosted its final meeting of Health Ministers on 21 June in Luxembourg. Ireland’s delegation was led by Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler.

The main agenda item was a policy debate on the legislative file relating to the Pharmaceutical Package. The Government is very conscious of the importance of retaining a competitive pharmaceutical industry in the EU and Ireland. During her intervention, Minister Butler clearly articulated the Government’s position on this crucial legislative file, and spoke of the need to find the right balance to address three key objectives:

- Access to safe and effective medicines for patients,

- Sustainability of national health systems, and

- Retention of a strong, innovative, pharmaceutical sector.

Minister Butler also emphasised that pharmaceutical companies who meet the needs of health systems should be rewarded for doing so, with transparent and predictable modulation that is not overly bureaucratic in practice.

On non-legislative items, the Council approved Council Conclusions on the Future Health Union that aim to keep Health high on the EU agenda. It also adopted a non-contentious Council Recommendation on Cancer Preventable vaccines. Ireland welcomes both initiatives.

The Belgian Presidency then updated the Ministers on (i) the events held during their presidency, (ii) negotiations of the Pandemic Agreement and revisions of the International Health Regulations, and (iii) WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Hungarian Minister then presented the work programme of their upcoming presidency (July – December 2024).

There were five A.O.B.s that were also discussed:

1. A call for action at the EU level to protect young people from harm caused by novel tobacco and nicotine products – Information from Latvian delegation.
2. Danish Position Paper on tobacco and nicotine.
3. Health situation in Gaza – Information from the Spanish delegation.
4. A call for action on HIV from the Romanian delegation.
5. Impact of excessive national stockpiling strategies on the EU solidarity – Information from the Czech delegation.