Table of Contents

Declaration ………………………………………………………………………………………… i
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………..ii
Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………………….. iii
List of Figures …………………………………………………………………………………… vii
List of Chart …………………………………………………………………………………….. viii
List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………………….. ix
Chapter 1. Introduction ………………………………………………………………………… 1
1.1 Research Background …………………………………………………………………… 1
1.2 Aim and Objectives of the Research………………………………………………….. 2
1.3 Organisation of the dissertation……………………………………………………….. 3
1.4 Scope and limitations of the research………………………………………………… 5
1.5 Industry and major contributions of the research …………………………………. 5
Chapter 2. Literature Review ………………………………………………………………….. 7
2.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….. 7
2.2 Understanding Brexit ……………………………………………………………………. 7
2.3 Irish Economy …………………………………………………………………………….. 8
2.4 Relationship between the UK and Ireland …………………………………………. 10
2.5 Global Life Science Industry ………………………………………………………….. 12
2.6 Irish Life Science Sector ………………………………………………………………. 14
2.6.1 Understanding Irish Life Science Industry and Its Operations …………… 18
2.7 Major Issues to be addressed in a potential Brexit ………………………………. 20
2.7.1 Trade and Commercial issues ………………………………………………….. 21
2.7.2 Operations and Supply Chain Issues ………………………………………….. 21
2.7.3 Regulatory Issues…………………………………………………………………. 22
2.8 Bilateral Trade Agreements…………………………………………………………… 24
2.9 Potential Implications of the Irish Life Science Sector and the Irish Economy 25
2.9.1 Drawbacks …………………………………………………………………………. 25
2.9.2 Advantages ………………………………………………………………………… 26
Chapter 3. Research Methodology …………………………………………………………..28
3.1 Methodology Introduction…………………………………………………………….. 28
3.2 Research Philosophy …………………………………………………………………… 29
3.3 Research Approach …………………………………………………………………….. 31
3.4 Research Strategy ……………………………………………………………………… 32
3.5 Research Choice ………………………………………………………………………… 33
3.6 Time Horizon ……………………………………………………………………………. 33
3.7 Sampling – Selecting Respondents ………………………………………………….. 34
3.8 Data collection ………………………………………………………………………….. 35
3.9 Research Ethics …………………………………………………………………………. 37
3.10 Research Limitations …………………………………………………………………. 38
3.11 Validity and reliability ………………………………………………………………… 38
Chapter 4. Survey Research Data Analysis and Findings ………………………………..40
4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………… 40
4.2 Survey Participants …………………………………………………………………….. 40
4.3 Data Overview ………………………………………………………………………….. 41
4.4 Data Analysis and Findings from entities (IPHA, HPRA and IDA)……………… 41
4.4.1 Theme 1: Brexit and Impacts in the Irish Life Science Industry …………. 41
4.4.2 Theme 2: Irish Life Science Relationship with the UK…………………… 42
4.4.3 Theme 3: Plans, Expansion and Relocations ……………………………… 44
4.4.4 Theme 4: Impact on the Irish Economy …………………………………… 46
4.5 Data display of Life Science Companies (PC1 and PC2) ………………………… 47
4.6 Data Analysis and Findings from Companies (PC1 and PC2)…………………… 48
4.6.1 Theme 1: Brexit and Impacts in the Irish Life Science Industry:………… 48
4.6.2 Theme 2: Irish Life Science Relationship with the UK……………………… 49
4.6.3 Theme 3: Plans, Expansion and Relocations: ……………………………….. 50
4.6.4 Theme 4: Impact on the Irish Economy ……………………………………… 51
Chapter 5. Discussion …………………………………………………………………………..52
5.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………… 52
5.2 How does the Irish Life Science Industry view Brexit? ………………………….. 52
5.3 What are the major issues facing the sector in the uncertain environment of
Brexit? …………………………………………………………………………………………. 52
5.4 What, potentially, is the major impact Brexit will have on the Irish Life Science
industry?………………………………………………………………………………………. 53
5.5 What are Irish Life Science companies actively planning or implementing in
order to prepare for Brexit?……………………………………………………………….. 54
5.6 Investments, Relocations and Expansions…………………………………………. 54
5.7 On what basis are Life Science companies making those decisions?…………. 55
5.8 What impact have those decisions on the Irish Life Science sector and on the
Irish economy? ………………………………………………………………………………. 56
Chapter 6. Conclusions and Recommendations……………………………………………57
6.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………57
6.2 Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………… 57
6.2.1 Research Objective 1: Identify how the Irish Life Science Industry views
Brexit ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 57
6.2.2 Research Objective 2: Identify the major issues facing the sector in the
uncertain environment of Brexit. ………………………………………………………. 58
6.2.3 Research Objective 3: Explore what Irish Life Science companies are
actively planning or implementing in order to prepare for Brexit. ……………….. 59
6.2.4 Research Objective 4: Identify on what basis Irish Life Science companies
are making those decisions ……………………………………………………………. 60
6.2.5 Research Objective 5: Evaluate the impact of those decisions on the Irish
Life Science sector and potentially on the Irish Economy ……………………….. 60
6.3 Recommendations ……………………………………………………………………… 61
6.4 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….. 62
Chapter 7. Reflection……………………………………………………………………………64
7.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………… 64
7.2 Learning Styles …………………………………………………………………………. 64
7.3 Researcher background……………………………………………………………….. 65
7.4 Master of Business Administration in Finance …………………………………….. 65
7.5 Dissertation ……………………………………………………………………………… 66
Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………………………69
Appendices ……………………………………………………………………………………….78
Appendix 1: Good Exports and Imports classified by commodity …………………. 78
Appendix 2: Interview Industrial Development Authority (IDA) ……………………. 79
Appendix 3: Interview Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) …….. 83
Appendix 4 – Interview Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA) …………… 87
Appendix 5: Pharmaceutical Company (PC1) …………………………………………. 90
Appendix 6: Pharmaceutical Company (PC2) …………………………………………. 93