Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2026
261. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to outline specific priorities for her Department ahead of Ireland hosting the EU Presidency from July of this year; the process by which such priorities are determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12967/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Strategic Agenda for the Union for 2024-29 sets out priorities and strategic orientations for the EU. It is structured around three pillars, broadly focused on values (a free and democratic Europe), security (a strong and secure Europe), and prosperity (a prosperous and competitive Europe). Ireland’s overall policy approach for the 2026 Presidency is being developed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade around these three priority themes.
Ireland’s Presidency Health Agenda will reflect this national and EU position, and aim at positioning health and competitiveness as mutually reinforcing priorities.
We will promote population health and wellbeing as a vital foundation for European security and competitiveness and highlight how innovation in health systems delivers better health outcomes for European citizens. We will advance the EU Life Sciences agenda and promote innovative and proactive healthcare that focusses on prevention and the roll out of digital health across the EU.
The Department of Health Presidency Programme aligns with:
• The European Commission Work Programme 2026 and its policy priorities.
• The Life Sciences Strategy ("Choose Europe for Life Sciences"), which drives competitiveness and sustainability in the pharmaceutical sector.
• The EU Commissions 2025 Winter Package published before Christmas 2025 which features the Biotech Act I, Proposals for updated Medical Devices Regulation and the EU Safe Heart Plan.
These developments are at the heart of Europe’s response to challenges and opportunities in the vital areas of pharma and medtech. Ireland has strengths in these areas in terms of our enterprise base and our work in the area of clinical trials. We are committed to competitiveness and to security of supply in these vital sectors through greater and more effective cooperation across the EU.
Ireland will work to strengthen the EU’s focus on population health and wellbeing to address public health challenges through proactive and preventative health measures. We will leverage the EU Safe Heart Plan to accelerate the revisions of the Tobacco Products Directive. We also aim to promote health service improvement and cooperation through the roll out of EU Digital Health strategy (the European Health Data Space – EHDS).
Ireland's Presidency will drive progress on critical EU legislation that advances our health agenda.
The Biotech Act I (published in December 2025) is a strategic priority for EU competitiveness and sovereignty. The Act streamlines regulations across clinical trials, advanced therapy medicinal products, and biomanufacturing. It mobilises €10 billion in investment funding (2026–27) via the Biotech EU initiative with the European Investment Bank. Key measures include simplified clinical trial procedures, innovation support mechanisms, and biosecurity safeguards. This flagship legislation will dominate health policy discussions during our Presidency.
The Medical Devices Regulation & In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (amendments published in December 2025) will simplify and modernise device approval while maintaining patient safety. Expected outcomes include €3–5 billion in annual cost savings for manufacturers, faster patient access to innovative devices, and reduced shortages of critical medical equipment.
The EU Safe Heart Plan aims to reduce premature cardiovascular deaths by 25% by 2035 through improved prevention, screening, and treatment across all Member States. The plan emphasises shifting from treatment to prevention, and among other things calls for stronger action against tobacco and smoking. We will aim to use our Presidency to accelerate work to update the EU tobacco legislation – to include vapes and other nicotine products which have been strongly promoted by the industry over recent years.
Other ongoing files expected to progress during our Presidency include the Critical Medicines Act, the WHO Pandemic Agreement Annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing, and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism reform, if not completed during the Cyprus Presidency.
