Mr. Jim Curran:

In terms of pharmacy compliance costs, the IPU conducted a study last year. A consultancy company called Tonic Consultancy was specifically engaged to consider this matter and concluded that to comply with pharmacy-specific legislation, for Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, PSI, requirements, cost on average €20,000 per pharmacy per annum. That is an additional cost that would not be imposed on other retail businesses. That cost does not include maintaining computerised patient medication record systems, which cost a minimum of €3,000, as Deputy Brassil is probably aware.

Another big issue is registration costs. Pharmacists must pay PSI registration costs, which are well in excess of the amount charged internationally. In Ireland it costs €3,325 to register a pharmacy the first time yet the equivalent fee in the UK or across the Border is €250. A pharmacist must also register and the typical annual cost is €540 the first time and €380 annually thereafter, which is a significant cost. If one is a pharmacist who wishes to operate a pharmacy business then before one opens the door one must pay €3,000 per year to simply register with the PSI.