Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. I thank Mr. O'Brien. While there have been some reductions in medical prices, it continues to be a source of amazement to the average man and woman that there is such a discrepancy between what people pay for drugs dispensed by pharmacists in Ireland and what they pay in the UK or Spain. Can Mr. O’Brien fill us in on the progress made in that regard? That would have a huge impact, given that the average medical card costs the State approximately €1,000 a year, three quarters of which is drugs rather than visits to the doctor. Any improvement would presumably make it much easier to meet budgetary targets.