Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the IPU witnesses appearing before the committee this morning. This was a very useful meeting. There are a number of actions the committee will follow through on, particularly in relation to oral contraceptives, on which we passed a motion. We will also provide an update on the minor illness schemes and try to find out about those. We will also try to find out from the Minister responsible regarding pharmacy student places, which was one of the issues raised. We will try to get an update on possible prescribing rights. When the Minister next attends, we will try to get some answers on that. We will attempt to get written replies in the meantime.

Regarding the call for a chief pharmaceutical officer, it would be helpful if the IPU had an expanded paper on that and what role that individual would have and so on. It would assist the committee in its deliberations. The witnesses mentioned other jurisdictions where this individual has been a driver for change. It is important that we examine that. The stock answer we get from the Minister or Department is that there are professional staff from a pharmaceutical background in the system and there may not necessarily be a need for that role. The Minister indicated again that the matter is being kept under review. If the IPU gives the committee more information on it, we may be able to take action on it.