Mr. Shane O'Sullivan:

It is a recurring annual charge. The fee is €25 every year.

Deputy Sandra McLellan asked about the software and the system pharmacists used when making house calls. She also raised the issue of elderly patients having access to the Internet. I am not sure if she is referring to Internet access in the home, but our pharmacists have their own Internet access. We do not expect people to have Internet access and our pharmacists have access through a mobile dongle.

The Deputy then asked why others could not do this. As Mr. O'Loughlin and Ms Maher alluded to in the earlier session, many pharmacies were set up in more expensive times and locked into high costs, including rents, and engaged in expensive fit-outs. As Senator Colm Burke said, we set up at a good time. Despite having much lower margins, we have a responsibility as a business to generate a profit and operate responsibly and we intend to do so.

Deputy Sandra McLellan's final question was related to medication shortages. She said she had heard of a large number of people travelling to Newry or Spain. They do not need to do this as they can come to Healthwave.