Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2009
292 Deputy Seán Ardagh asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will request the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to implement its new registration regime for the pharmacy sector as quickly as possible to progress the processing of non-EU/EEA applications of trained pharmacists under the Pharmacy Act 2007 as in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4399/09]
View answerOn the 28th November 2008 I signed the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Registration) Rules 2008 (S.I. No. 494 of 2008) which provide for new pharmaceutical registration systems, including a system for a non-EU/EEA route of qualification recognition and registration. These Rules came into force on 29th November 2008. The PSI concentrated its efforts, in the first instance, on putting in place the system for registration of retail pharmacy businesses. This process of ensuring that all retail pharmacy businesses were registered was successfully completed in January 2009.
In relation to the non-EU/EEA route of qualification recognition and registration, the PSI is committed to ensuring that the application system for recognition of a third country qualification, and the associated registration system, is fully operational as soon as time, legal advice and resources permit. A considerable amount of preliminary work was carried out before the signing of the rules and the Society has, since then, been working with its legal advisers to develop an appropriate process in line with the legislation. The PSI anticipates that the relevant documentation will be available for download by applicants within a month. In the meantime, any potential applicant is advised to consult the Education & Registration Unit of the PSI to ensure that he/she will have the required documentation prepared for submission to the PSI as soon as the process is commenced. The PSI will shortly communicate the operational date for commencement of the process to all potential applicants.
