Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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246. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is concerned by delays within Ireland’s system of reimbursement of new medicines; his views on whether this is an competitiveness issue; if he will raise delays with the Minister for Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49733/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The relationship between competitiveness and broader societal well-being has been clearly articulate by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council with the latter emphasising that improving the quality of life for the whole community is the ultimate objective of the competitiveness agenda. Timely access to effective medicines has an important role to play here. This actively supports population health which, in turn underpins well-being, productivity, and active labour market participation.

Ireland’s system of reimbursement for new medicines is a matter of health policy and as such, it is the responsibility for the Minister for Health. I do, however, recognise the broader competitiveness dimension of this matter. My Department will continue to engage with their counterparts in the Department of Health as to how Ireland can balance affordability and equity of access with timely adoption of new medicines (and in a way that supports both patient outcomes and our competitiveness position).