Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the challenges that were identified against Covid-19 vaccine drug product manufacturing in existing facilities here: the cost and timeline associated with these challenges; if a report was commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19119/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in Ireland play a key role in the global supply chain of numerous innovative medicines used to treat a wide range of illnesses. The continued necessity and demand for these life changing medicines remains critical to patient care and sites in Ireland have remained focused on maintaining operations and supply of these vital medicines. The capabilities of each site are specifically developed for the production of those medicines while ensuring regulatory and safety performance.

The manufacture of medicinal products, including vaccines, is a complex activity that involves multiple production stages and manufacturing processes, specialist expertise, specific technology solutions and associated infrastructure and a well-coordinated global supply chain. The bulk of global manufacturing to date has been in dedicated vaccine production sites. Modification of an existing facility to manufacture a new product such as a vaccine, would require significant time and capital expenditure and a comprehensive regulatory assessment and is therefore not practical to meet the demands of speed and scale that are required to tackle the pandemic.

Over the past year, IDA Ireland has proactively engaged with its pharmaceutical client base in Ireland. These client engagements have confirmed that there is no immediate available capacity to produce COVID-19 vaccines in Ireland as manufacturers here continue to support global supply chains across a range of innovative medicines.

The COVID-19 Products Scheme that was launched by Minister Humphreys in June 2020, allows additional aid to companies that are developing or producing medicinal products and equipment used in the fight against COVID-19. We have an ongoing commitment to this critical sector and support innovative companies that are developing the new products and processes that will further develop the industry here in Ireland and help us in the fight against COVID-19.