Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My colleague, Deputy Dowds, touched on promotional activity and there has been a discussion about below the counter and above the counter pricing. I have no experience of this in the pharmaceutical industry but I do have significant experience of the practice in the supply of goods to retailers. If we are not tracking it at our end in how the State purchases goods, does it not mean that the people from whom we buy goods are receiving quite a significant margin increase? My understanding is we buy the goods from a distributor.