Irish pharma firms confident despite Trump's threats but experts warn of turbulent times

Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association CEO Oliver O’Connor said US pharma companies in Ireland have 'invested for the long term'. Picture: iStock

The head of a representative body for Ireland’s pharma industry is confident that the 50,000-strong workforce in the country will still be here in five years, despite US president Donald Trump’s threats to “take back what has been stolen”.

Ireland is one of the world’s leading exporters of pharmaceuticals, with €42bn of medicines exported worldwide, and Mr Trump made the industry a particular focus of his Oval Office meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Wednesday.