Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the second part, I mentioned the links that the correspondent provided. The links contain information to back up his case. We are not in a position to adjudicate on the strength of the information. The Deputy is correct that it is a very serious matter. That is the reason I flagged it for discussion. On the point raised by Deputy Verona Murphy on the well-being of patients if overprescribing were happening, it would not be a healthy situation — pardon the pun. If certain drug companies have undue influence on medical practitioners or services generally in this country, it is very worrying. Deputy Colm Burke is correct about contracts. The best thing to do is to request the correspondent’s permission to send the correspondence to the Department for its response in the first instance.

We could also ask that if the correspondent has any further evidence, he would forward that to the committee or the Department of Health, if that is acceptable.