Ordinary Shares Issued and Proceeds Received (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Stock Activity [Line Items]
Employee withholding taxes paid related to share-based awards	$ (1,427)		$ (25,299)
Ordinary Shares [Member]
Stock Activity [Line Items]
Employee withholding taxes paid related to share-based awards, share issued	0	[1]	0	[1]
Option and warrant exercise and vested RSU, shares issued	826		1,722
Directors deferred compensation plan, shares issued	0		29
Totals, shares issued	826		14,111
Employee withholding taxes paid related to share-based awards	(1,427)	[1]	(25,299)	[1]
Option and warrant exercises, cash proceeds	9,609		5,160
Directors deferred compensation plan	0		0
Totals, cash proceeds	8,182		(20,139)
Ordinary Shares [Member] | Azur Pharma [Member]
Stock Activity [Line Items]
Merger with Azur Pharma, shares issued	0		12,360
Cash proceeds from merger	$ 0		$ 0

[1] During the three months ended March 31, 2013, we paid $1.4 million of income tax withholdings on behalf of employees related to the net share settlement of vested RSUs. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we paid $25.3 million of income tax withholdings on behalf of certain employees of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. related to the net share settlement of exercised share options in connection with the Azur Merger. The income tax withholdings paid were recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.