Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
783. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if membership of the (CTAC) Clinical Trials Advisory Council has been set; to provide full list of membership; the efforts her Department is making to ensure that Ireland is an attractive place for clinical trials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47461/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for raising awareness of this important topic. A shortlist of candidates for the Clinical Trials Advisory Council has been prepared and is currently under review, and I anticipate appointing members to the CTAC in the coming weeks. At that time, the members will be notified and the CTAC will be announced via the Department of Health Press Office.
The CTAC will oversee the implementation of the Final Recommendations of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group, which will help streamline the clinical trials regulatory environment in Ireland whilst maintaining the highest standards of data and patient protection, and will introduce greater predictability and efficiency that will have the overall effect of accelerating the speed at which clinical trials can gain regulatory approval and commence recruiting patients. This will contribute towards increasing Ireland's attractiveness as a host for high-quality clinical trials. Our efforts are in alignment with measures proposed in the European Commission's Biotech Act (Part 1), as well as commitments in our own Programme for Government, and will ultimately result in our population having greater access to innovative life-changing treatments.
