Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee. This is like "Groundhog Day". Not only have we had this conversation in this room previously; we also had it at the Fine Gael committee. What the Irish Pharmacy Union has said today is exactly what it said six and nine months ago. I disagree with Senator John Crown that the service offered is a limping service. That it is such a superb service is the reason we should be rolling out all the other initiatives he has suggested not only today but previously. As a committee, we have had conversations with the HSE and the director who is responsible for this area. The HSE views all the services he has proposed as wonderful and cannot wait to sit down to discuss them with him with a view to putting them in place. What is happening with the negotiations? Has he discussed any of the ten items on his proposed recommendation agenda today? Has he discussed pharmacy fees, given that the representative body has large amounts of money in the bank and does not necessary need to maintain the fees? Has any move been made on that issue? The last time we spoke, the only two types of professional who could not continue to practise once they had been declared bankrupt were politicians and pharmacists. We have managed to sort out the politicians' side. Is there any real movement on a drafting of an amendment to the Act? What has happened since the last time we discussed this issue? I hope I will not be told that nothing has happened, but please enlighten me.