New laws mean that people can now use prescriptions issued to them by their Irish GPs in other parts of the EU.

Similarly, people who have obtained a prescription elsewhere in Europe can use it to obtain their medicine in Ireland.

The new laws are part of the EU Cross Border Directive, which was established to ensure that EU member states would work more closely together in the interest of patients.

According to Health Minister, Leo Varadkar, these cross-border prescriptions will make ‘a real difference' to Irish people travelling in the EU.

"It means that people won't have to worry about running out of medicine while on holiday or away on business in the EU, so long as they bring a cross-border prescription with them.

"It also means that anyone who falls ill elsewhere in the EU, and is prescribed medicine while abroad, will be able to purchase that medicine when they return home if they have obtained a cross-border prescription," he explained.

The new measures ensure that people can obtain a medicine in another EU country using an Irish prescription, as long as the medicine is authorised for sale and is available in that other country.

Minister Varadkar added that this is a good example of why the EU was established in the first place - ‘not to impose rules and regulations on people, but rather to make travel, trade and movement around the continent more free'.