Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thank you Deputy. I welcome the viewers who are watching the proceedings of this meeting live on the UPC network and the Oireachtas website. It is important that we reach out to people. It is good to know it is being shown on the Oireachtas website and also on UPC.

We are discussing the role of the pharmacy sector in Ireland and I thank Senator Colm Burke who requested that we hold this meeting before the summer recess. I welcome the representatives of the Irish Pharmacy Union, Mr. Daragh Connolly, vice president; Mr. Bernard Duggan, honorary treasurer; Mr. Darragh O'Loughlin, secretary general and Ms Pamela Logan director of pharmacy services, IPU and thank them for being here this afternoon. The role of the pharmacist has grown and evolved in the past number of years, with the pharmacist providing significant support as well as additional services to patients and clients across the community, both urban and rural.

Pharmacists provide huge support for patients and people across urban and rural communities. In addition to dispensing medicines, they also provide additional services. I thank the delegates of their representative body, the Irish Pharmacy Union, for being here. We will discuss a variety of members' interests and issues of concern.

Before we begin, I draw attention to the important position on privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I apologise for my voice, as I have a chest infection. My local pharmacist took good care of me yesterday. I invite Mr. O'Loughlin to make the opening presentation.