asked the Minister for Health when it is intended to establish the national drugs company which was promised in the Joint Programme for Government.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Drugs Company.
10.
The establishment of a national drug company will be a matter for the National Development Corporation when that body is set up.
I agree that the Minister has a problem because such a company was to be established by the National Development Corporation, but of course we have not heard about the latter for 12 months. I am sure the Minister is concerned about the need to establish a national drugs company bearing in mind that the Joint Programme for Government pointed out that such a company could effect substantial savings. Has the Minister submitted his ideas on this to the Cabinet? Has the Minister pressed his idea about such a company or pointed out to the Cabinet the substantial savings that would result?
I should like to assure the Deputy that I am not waiting for a national drug company to be established. When I saw the provision for drugs by the last Government in 1982 I renegotiated agreements my Department had entered into and as a result I have saved up to £10 million on drugs this year.
The Minister made that saving by depriving the elderly and creating hardship.
That process will continue into the 1984 Estimates. The use of generics and the role of our domestic pharmaceutical companies will be examined by the National Development Corporation bearing in mind that the production of drugs and the employment involved is a major entity in our economy.
The Minister has not replied to my question. Is the Minister telling the House that the idea of a national drug company has been forgotten, that he does not see any need for it and he will not be pressing the matter any further?
That is not true and the Deputy is aware of that. The Deputy is aware that the Joint Programme for Government indicated that the task of establishing such a company would be given to a national development corporation. He is also aware that that programme stated that the functions of the company would be to manufacture and supply the general medical service with drugs thereby effecting substantial savings. Pending the setting up of that company I went ahead and got agreement with drugs companies and the Federation of Irish Chemical Industries on a number of existing contracts. The result is that substantial savings were made. The manufacture of drugs and the setting up of a new company under the NDC is within the remit of the Minister for Industry and Energy.
Is the Minister pursuing that question with the appropriate Minister?
I should like to assure the Deputy that I always pursue such issues with my colleagues.
Will the Minister tell the House when the National Development Corporation is likely to be established?
That is another question.
The Minister referred to it in the course of his reply.
It does not relate to the same Department.
The Minister is talking about the kitten and Deputy Fitzgerald is asking about the cat.