Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin:

I am quite happy to indicate that the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, IPHA, agreement relates to savings in the cost of medicines. There is work in progress and the issues are being dealt with. There are discussions also with the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers in Ireland, APMI, the generic manufacturers, but I am constrained in the detail that I can go into.

The interrogation of all aspects of health spending is being undertaken by my Department and every single source of funding or potential funding to deal with this deficit is being looked at. In due course when the committee examines the accounts from the HSE, it will see that we are working with a very difficult and challenging situation but doing so in a constructive way. The issues around income collection, drug costs, and as been mentioned by Deputy Simon Harris, consultants pay, and other issues are being addressed. These are complex and difficult issues and many of which are policy issues. Nobody would be happier to be freed up from the constraints and be able to bring the members into the detail of these things but I cannot at this point.