Peter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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329. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which he intends to support the MedTech sector, given that the Programme for Government highlights it as a sector where Ireland has a competitive advantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14119/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has a thriving Medtech sector supported by Government policy, funding, and industry collaboration. Ireland is home to an internationally important Medtech cluster, with an estimated 450 companies employing circa 40,000 people. This includes major multinationals along with a strong base of indigenous firms who are competing successfully internationally and improving the lives of people around the world by developing innovative medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health solutions that enhance healthcare outcomes, patient safety, and quality of life.

The Government, through agencies like IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, provides financial incentives, R&D grants, and export assistance to support both foreign and domestic Medtech companies. The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) and programmes supported by Horizon Europe funding further drive innovation in the sector.

Ireland’s regulatory and academic ecosystem is another key enabler. The Health Products Regulatory Authority ensures compliance with EU medical device regulations, while universities and research institutions foster collaboration through dedicated Medtech research centres, such as Research Ireland’s CÚRAM Research Centre for Medical Devices hosted by the University of Galway.

The sector also benefits from a skilled workforce and specialised training programmes through IDA Ireland’s support of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) and other initiatives.

The Lifesciences sector, which Medtech is a part of, is recognised across Europe as strategically important and the European Commission’s Work Programme envisages a focus on the sector through the development of an EU Lifesciences strategy and supporting initiatives. Government also recognises its importance as evidence by our commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a national lifesciences strategy. My Department is currently allocating resources to a new team to develop the strategy and influence EU developments. The process ahead in developing a strategy will include initiation and scoping, evidence gathering and analysis, stakeholder engagement and consultation, drafting, and will have to take into account EU developments.

I believe that the proposed EU Lifesciences Strategy and a new National Lifesciences Strategy will strengthen Ireland’s Medtech sector. While I cannot pre-empt the development of a national strategy, it would not be unreasonable to surmise that it will consider a number of strategic themes such as Investment & Funding; R&D and Innovation; Talent Development; Infrastructure & Digital Transformation; Regulatory & Policy Alignment; and International Trade & Market Access. Taking into account EU timelines and the level of engagement required in developing a national strategy, I would not expect it to be finalised until next year. Notwithstanding this, I can assure the Deputy that we will continue to support the sector and act on any opportunities as they arise over the course of the strategy’s development.