Pharmacy Regulations.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004

Tuesday, 27 April 2004

Ceisteanna (444)

Paddy McHugh

Ceist:

499 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will remove the unfair registration process which applies to EU qualified pharmacists who are EU nationals, which prevents them from working in a pharmacy less than three years old while the same restrictions do not apply to non-EU nationals with the same qualification or EU pharmacists who have qualified outside the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11233/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

As I stated in my previous reply to the Deputy, the regulations concerned do not prevent such EU pharmacists from working in a pharmacy that is less than three years old, other than as a supervising pharmacist. Under the Pharmacy Acts, the supervising pharmacist, as the "authorised person", is required to personally supervise the pharmacy and the dispensing and compounding of medical prescriptions therein.