Press Release: Tuesday 2 December 2025
Minister for Health meeting EU counterparts for EPSCO in Brussels
The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is today representing Ireland at the Employment, Social Policy, Health, and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) meeting of EU health ministers in Brussels.
Ministers will approve Council’s position on the proposed Critical Medicines Act, to strengthen the security and availability of essential medicines in the European Union. They will also discuss the impact of novel tobacco and nicotine products such as vapes and pouches on the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. At the last EPSCO meeting in June Minister Carroll MacNeill called on the European Commission to urgently bring forward the revised Tobacco Products Directive.
Minister Carroll MacNeill, said:
“Today, I will meet with my European colleagues to discuss how best to tackle the growing impact of novel tobacco and nicotine products on young people. I will update them on Ireland’s work to prohibit the sale of nicotine products to minors.
“We will also approve Council’s position on the Critical Medicines Act to ensure continued security around the supply of critical medicines for patients across Europe.
“My thanks to the Danish Presidency for its leadership on these important topics, and I look forward to Ireland continuing this work as we prepare for our EU Presidency next year.”
Minister Carroll MacNeill also plans to hold several bilateral meetings with her counterparts, including the Spanish Minister for Health Mónica García Gómez and the German Health Minister Nina Warken.