MEP invites Ursula von der Leyen to Waterford to see impact of potential tariffs

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, an MEP for Waterford, has written to EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen inviting her to Waterford and neighbouring counties next month to tour Waterford’s pharmaceutical and medical technology sector.

Over 3000 people are employed in County Waterford in the Pharma and Med tech sector at companies like Bausch + Lomb, Sanofi, West Pharma, and EirGen.

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has said,

“I think it is important that President Von Der Leyen see for herself that we are not talking about isolated factories, but rather operations that are deeply integrated into our local communities, with partnerships in schools, universities, regional authorities, and training centres”

According to Ní Mhurchú, some of the world’s most advanced medicines and life-saving medical devices are being made in counties like Waterford. These include biologics, vaccines, oncology treatments, and implantable cardiac devices.

This is an industry which has been built on decades of stable regulation, international partnership, and shared investment in skills, innovation, and community.

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“I want President Von Der Leyen to meet the workers, researchers and see for herself how our pharma and med tech industry has created a wider life sciences ecosystem and fostered collaborations with our universities, funded science education in our schools, and supported local charities”, she added.

“I believe this tour would send a strong signal not only to global investors, but to the thousands of workers in our region who are proud to be part of Europe and its leading life sciences economy.”

The Waterford MEP has offered to coordinate Von Der Leyen’s visit to Waterford and the Southeast.