The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and the Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor have congratulated Dr Lorraine Nolan on her appointment as Executive Director of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA).

Dr Nolan, who is currently Chief Executive of Ireland’s Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) was elected following a meeting of the EUDA Management Board in Lisbon this week. She will take up her role on 1 January 2026. The EUDA is responsible for contributing to EU preparedness to deal with the threat of illicit drugs, through monitoring, research and analysis.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said: "I was delighted to support Dr Lorraine Nolan's candidacy and I wish her well as she prepares to take on the challenging and exciting role of leading the EUDA to deliver its enhanced mandate and funding. "She has served with distinction as the chief executive of the HPRA, providing strong leadership in the regulation of medicines and medical products during a period of significant transformation of the authority’s regulatory functions. Her vast experience in regulatory affairs and her impressive track record working within regulatory networks in the EU and internationally mean she is exceptionally qualified to lead EUDA."

Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor said: "I extend my warmest congratulations to Dr Nolan on her appointment which recognises her exemplary management expertise. The EUDA, under Dr Nolan’s leadership, will have an important role in the development and implementation of the new EU Drugs Strategy. I look forward to engaging with Dr Nolan on how we can strengthen the EU response to the complex and evolving challenges of the drug situation, especially during the Irish Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2026."

Notes: The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) is an agency of the European Union and the leading authority on illicit drugs in Europe. It provides independent scientific evidence and analysis on all aspects of drug use and contributes to EU and national policies to protect Europe's citizens from drug-related harms.

Dr Lorraine Nolan
Dr Nolan has served as the Chief Executive of the HPRA since 2016. During her tenure, she has successfully guided the organisation through a significant transformation of its key regulatory functions and an expansion of its operations, elevating the standing of the HPRA on national, European and international levels. In addition, her determined and strategic leadership during Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic ensured the national regulator for medicines and medical devices made a vital contribution to the successful navigation of these challenges.

Dr Nolan has been a significant contributor to the leadership of both medicines and medical device regulation at European level. Through her former position as Chair of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Management Board (2022-2025) and her membership of the Heads of Medicines Agency (HMA) Management Group, she has held many significant roles at this level that have both defined strategy and positively enhanced delivery. Before joining the HPRA, Dr Nolan worked for a number of years in private industry in the area of drug development and also within the state forensic science services. A chemist by training, she completed her PhD and post-doctoral research in transdermal drug delivery at Trinity College Dublin.

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Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Dr Lorraine Nolan appointed to lead EU Drugs Agency.

The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, has today (19 June) congratulated Dr Lorraine Nolan on her appointment as Executive Director of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA).

Dr Nolan was elected by a two-thirds majority in a secret ballot by the EUDA Management Board following a competitive public recruitment process and will take office on 1 January 2026.

Minister Byrne said: "This appointment is one of which Ireland is immensely proud. Dr Nolan's distinguished career and expertise uniquely position her to guide EUDA through its important mission of addressing one of the most significant challenges facing our societies today." The European Union Drugs Agency plays a crucial role in monitoring, analysing, and responding to drug-related threats across the European Union. Under Dr Nolan's leadership, the agency will continue to strengthen its capacity to address the evolving nature of drug markets and their associated harms.

Minister Byrne added: “I am confident that the EUDA will benefit enormously from Dr Nolan's expertise and vision. It is fantastic to see an Irish person elected to lead such a prominent and important EU agency. I very much look forward to working with her in her new capacity and to continuing Ireland's strong collaboration with EUDA."  

Ireland strongly welcomes and supports the appointment of Irish nationals to senior leadership positions with EU institutions and agencies. Such appointments reflect Ireland’s commitment to European integration and our ability to contribute experienced skilled professionals to key roles that benefit the entire European Union.