The Minister visits Brussels for key meetings to progress Ireland’s bid for the agency
The Minister of State for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, TD, has said today (Thursday 23rd March) that Dublin is the perfect new home for the European Medicines Agency, which will have to relocate from London to another EU Member State following the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
The Minister was speaking following a trip to Brussels, during which she held a number of meetings with key stakeholders and MEPs, as well as with the EU’s Deputy Chief Negotiator on Brexit Sabine Weyand.
Minister Corcoran Kennedy said “the EMA plays a vital role in the protection and promotion of public health for 500 million European citizens and so it is vital the impact of a relocation is minimised. I am absolutely convinced that a move to Dublin would mean a seamless transition, ensuring continued protection of EU citizens and providing reassurance to the industries which it regulates.”
Ireland firmly believes that Dublin offers the best outcome for the Agency for a number of reasons:
Dublin would prove very attractive to EMA staff and their families and maximise retention of existing staff.
Dublin is an English-speaking location and English is the working language of the EMA and the pharmaceutical industry.
The Irish medicines regulator – the Health Products Regulatory Authority – is a highly regarded regulator internationally, which already provides significant support to the EMA. This could be scaled up in the event of a relocation to Dublin.
The Minister continued, “a relocation of the EMA to Dublin would be a significant boost for the city, as the Agency directly employs 900 staff and needs over 350 hotel beds per night to service visitors.”
The Minister concluded, “What we need, for the good of all Europeans, is a quick decision to be taken on the relocation of this key agency, but it must be the right decision. The EMA needs a home which will ensure the future sustainability of the agency. It is my firm belief that Dublin is that home.”
Notes for Editors
An interdepartmental/interagency group has been established to develop a detailed proposal to promote the selection of Dublin as the new location for the EMA.
This group includes the Department of the Taoiseach, Department of Health, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Health Products Regulatory Authority, IDA Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, and the Health Research Board.
The group is currently finalising a detailed proposal and engaging in discussions with the EU Commission, key stakeholders and other Members states to work to promote the selection of Dublin as the new location for the EMA.