Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
388. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific priorities, with particular reference to innovation and life sciences, that his Department has identified ahead of Ireland hosting the EU Presidency from July of this year; the process by which these priorities are being determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16238/26]
View answerIn preparing for Ireland’s Presidency July, my Department’s work is guided first by the overarching ambitions set out in the Trio Programme for the Ireland–Lithuania–Greece Presidency cycle. I expect the Trio will signal a clear collective focus on ensuring a resilient, competitive and future-oriented Union capable of responding to geopolitical, economic and technological challenges.
Within this framework, Ireland’s Presidency Policy Programme will likely emphasise competitiveness as one of the core themes that will guide all Council formations during our term. This theme includes strengthening the Single Market; driving regulatory simplification; supporting strategic sectors, for example: biotechnology, medical technologies and advanced manufacturing; and enabling innovation and research across the EU. This competitiveness focus provides the strategic context for the Department’s specific priorities relating to innovation and life sciences.
A central element of Ireland’s engagement both ahead of, and during our Presidency will be stewarding a number of significant EU legislative and policy files that directly impact the life sciences sector. These include:
The Pharma Package aimed at reducing regulatory burden, addressing medicine shortages and improving access to innovative therapies.
The Critical Medicines Act which seeks to strengthen security of supply and production of essential medicines across the Union.
Revisions to the Medical Devices Regulation and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation to ensure proportionate, effective and innovation-friendly regulatory oversight.
These files are led by the Department of Health with significant input from my Department. There are a number of other relevant files:
The Biotech Acts (in two parts) – where responsibilities are shared between the Department of Health (health-related biotech) and my Department (the wider biotech ecosystem).
The REACH revision
The implementation of the EU Life Sciences Strategy – with my Department leading on enterprise and competitiveness-focused elements.
Throughout our Presidency, Ireland will of course act with impartiality. However, given our strong record in life sciences, we will also bring informed and constructive perspectives to Council negotiations. Our domestic strengths including world-leading biopharma and medtech clusters, a globally connected FDI base, internationally recognised research centres, and deep linkages between industry, academia, clinicians and regulators ensure Ireland can contribute meaningfully and credibly to shaping the EU’s future direction in life sciences innovation.
The Department’s priorities for the Presidency are being determined through a structured process aligned with the development of Ireland’s National Life Sciences Strategy which is grounded in strong cross-Government collaboration. A High-Level Interdepartmental Steering Group, chaired by my Department and including senior officials from the Departments of Health; Taoiseach; Public Expenditure; Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; and Agriculture, Food and the Marine, ensures alignment of national policy with key EU files. Beneath this sits a Working Group involving officials and agencies with operational expertise. This architecture ensures that ensuring coherence between our EU-level engagement and our long-term national ambitions.
Extensive engagement with stakeholders including industry leaders, representative bodies, research agencies, clinicians, patient-facing groups and international partners also shapes our priorities. My Department, has undertaken a public consultation, is convening thematic forums, undertaking sectoral analyses, and has initiated deep bilateral engagement with key actors. This provides real-time intelligence on emerging technologies, regulatory challenges and innovation opportunities, ensuring the Presidency’s agenda is grounded in sectoral realities.
Our engagement at EU level during and after our Presidency will also be complemented by the roadmap now being developed through the National Life Sciences Strategy. This strategy will set out a clear national vision for strengthening Ireland’s innovation, research and industrial capabilities across biopharma, medtech, advanced therapeutics, digital health, data-driven research, clinical trials, sustainability and commercialisation.
A central theme of the strategy will be Ireland’s unique collaborative strength — the ability of Government, academia, industry, the health system and regulators to work together in a coordinated, evidence-based way. This collaborative model underpins both our Presidency approach and the long-term development of the domestic ecosystem.
Ireland’s EU Presidency comes at a pivotal moment for Europe’s competitiveness and its ambition to be the world’s most attractive location for life sciences innovation. Through effective stewardship of key EU files and through the development of a National Life Sciences Strategy, we are positioning Ireland to contribute constructively to Europe’s competitiveness while strengthening our own national capabilities.
I am determined to ensure that the national strategy establishes an enduring model of engagement among Government, academia, industry and health stakeholders. This will help sustain a thriving, innovation-driven life sciences ecosystem that delivers for patients and industry alike and will ensure Ireland continues to shape EU life sciences policy long after our Presidency concludes.
