Ireland is paying up to 24-times more than the UK for some generic drugs, and reform is happening at a slow pace. The Sunday Business Post yesterday published details of a new study comparing Irish and British prices. It found we are paying disproportionately more.

Health experts say UK prices are not even particularly cheap compared to other countries.

Yesterday Junior Minister for Health Alex White defended the huge costs, pointing to a Bill on drug prices that is going through the Dáil at the moment.

"I can see there's a problem"

"I think that the setting of prices for drugs - for people who need drugs - should be done on the basis of what's rational and what's right in terms of...what the correct price of the drugs is, and not bad on any other factor" he said.

"I can see there's a problem; I haven't said to you that I think there isn't a problem - I'm not trying to fob it off, I think there is a serious problem. We've begun to get a grip on it, the legislation will definitely help. And let's see what the ESRI comes up with, with a comprehensive comparative with other countries".

"We're bringing in legislation - it's gone through second-stage in the Dail, it's going to Committee stage soon".

"What will it do? Two things. One is (that) drug prices will be set in accordance with a comparative 9 other countries in Europe. What it also does is there's a system in place now in the legislation which will introduce a new regime where the Irish Medicines Board if they designate drugs as being of the same effectiveness, the efficiency and so forth - that is what people must do" he added.

Susan Mitchell is Health Correspondent with The Sunday Business Post.

She told Breakfast here on Newstalk that the Bill was announced in 2010 by the last government which further shows the lack of progress that is being made.