Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Pharmacies.

Liz McManus

Question:

319 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the regulations he is proposing for pharmacies; if he has met the IPU on this issue; if he is taking on board this organisation's concerns; and if he will publish the draft regulations and any possible amendments to address the concerns of pharmacists. [14723/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The Health (Community Pharmacy Contractor Agreement) Regulations, 1996, were revoked by me last January following advice from the office of the Attorney General. This revocation has not affected the operation of the community pharmacy scheme and all existing contracts still stand.

I have met the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) on the revocation of the 1996 regulations and am aware of their concerns. Officials of my Department have also been engaged in a series of meetings with the IPU on the matter.

A pharmacy review group, which includes a representative of the IPU, was established last November to examine the pharmacy issues raised in the OECD report on regulatory reform in Ireland. Consideration has been given to the introduction of new community pharmacy regulations, on an interim basis, to cover the period up to the publication of the review group's report. My Department will keep the need for such regulations under consideration, bearing in mind that this review group is now expected to complete its deliberations within a matter of months.