Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be satisfied if Mr. Dempsey sends a note.

There are one or two other small points. This will be an issue for Mr. Barry O'Brien in particular, because I refer to it in my opening comments. The second paragraph on page 46 states:

The HSE is currently involved in a legal dispute with a number of drugs importing companies with respect to the implementation of cost savings and other initiatives outlined as part of a framework agreement between the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), the Department of Health, and the HSE, which came into effect on 1 November 2012. The outcome from the dispute process based on the current stage of legal proceedings remains uncertain

and therefore there is difficulty in quantifying the amount of any potential liability which may arise. This leads me on to a question I mentioned in my opening comment to the effect that negotiations between what was the HSE and the IPHA on a new drugs contract were stopped or did not happen. They were proceeding, and many people thought they would be concluded in recent weeks, but that is not happening. I understand from the HSE that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is directly involved in this regard, and rightly so. Consequently, I wish to ask the representative of that Department why these formal negotiations have not commenced, because I understand the contract is up around now.