I propose to take Questions Nos. 542 to 544, inclusive, together.
As announced last week the recent interim agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) should deliver savings of approx €10m in 2012. As part of the agreement, the HSE will give its approval to the reimbursement of drugs which in the normal course of events would have been approved for reimbursement under the schemes. The HSE is assessing a number of applications from manufacturers and suppliers for the inclusion of their products on the GMS and community drugs schemes. I am not in a position to fully assess the budget impact and numbers of patients expected to benefit until these applications and related price negotiations have been completed. Detailed discussions with IPHA on a possible new agreement shall commence shortly. These discussions shall be concluded in the shortest possible time.