Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am interested, because primary care centres are great and very welcome. However, sometimes they displace other businesses. For example there might be two well-established pharmacists in a town when a new primary care centre opens, which includes a pharmacist. It is quite unfair and I think the IPU should take a position and lobby on behalf of the existing pharmacists. In some cases there is a need for a pharmacist, but in others there is absolutely none. I will leave that with Ms Maher.

I have a final question. Does the IPU encourage pharmacists in particular counties to work together to provide out-of-hours services, for example on Sundays? Are there any protocols or discussions, or is it left as a local solution? We know people get sick at weekends as well as during the week. It can be very difficult, particularly on a Sunday or a bank holiday Monday to find an open pharmacy, particularly in rural areas. Is there any consideration of that dilemma for people, within the union structure?