Vol. 433 No. 2
114 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, that has been made in relation to the location of the EC medicine agency in Dublin; the benefits of multinational pharmaceutical companies having a base in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Government is maintaining a strong claim for the location of the proposed European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products in Dublin. I have arranged for an up-dating of the brochure in support of Ireland's application. The Taoiseach and I will be personally pursuing our case with our EC counter parts during the months up to the next EC heads of State summit meeting.
A number of other countries have also expressed an interest in the siting of the Agency but I believe that there are substantial reasons why the community's interests and the interests of the pharmaceutical industry would be best served if Dublin were chosen. Ireland has a longestablished and recognised expertise in medicine and science, including the evaluation, licensing and control of medicines. All the technical and other resources necessary to support the Agency are readily available in Dublin and generally at a lower cost than other Community capitals.
