Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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193. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific steps he might consider taking to protect the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland should there be an increase in tariffs on EU pharmaceuticals in the US. [29779/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s consistent position remains that we need a substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue on trade with the United States.

The suspension of some US tariffs, along with the EU also pausing its own re-balancing measures, has created the conditions for meaningful negotiation. Ireland, as part of the EU, wants to play a constructive role and will continue to be a voice for calm and measured engagement in the time ahead.

While most Irish exporters are currently subject to additional 10% tariffs, exporters of pharmaceutical products are not. However, we must be up front that, while the negotiations between the EU and US are underway, there are still risks of further sectoral tariffs, including on the pharmaceutical industry. As we have said publicly, significant uncertainty remains.

The Deputy will be aware that a US Section 232 national security investigation into imports of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients is ongoing. This may lead to further actions being taken by the US Administration on imports of pharmaceuticals.

Ireland reiterates that it poses no threat to the United States national security. I have on several occasions raised the mutually beneficial and interconnected nature of the Irish, European and American pharmaceutical industry with Commerce Secretary Lutnick and the US Administration. I have also conveyed our sensitivities regarding this industry to the European Commission as well as other EU partners. I believe that the strategic importance of the pharmaceutical industry to the EU as a whole is well understood.

Furthermore, my officials and I have also engaged intensively with stakeholders, including through the Government Trade Forum, to understand the potential impacts on the industry of US tariffs and EU re-balancing measures, if they were to be put in place.

The Government and its agencies will continue to support Irish businesses as they navigate this new trading environment. The forthcoming Action Plan on Market Diversification, which is being developed jointly by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is a key part of the Government response to current market turbulence and will assess the supports available for Irish businesses to diversify their market outlets and supply chains.