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

I will focus on capacity. Last week the Irish Pharmacy Union came before the committee. Its representatives spoke about a possible role for Irish pharmacists and the fact that polls have suggested they are the most trusted healthcare providers in Ireland. They showed their mettle during the Covid epidemic with regard to vaccinations and more. They spoke about other jurisdictions and the roll-out of strategies to deal with shingles, athlete's foot and eczema. This is done in other jurisdictions but clearly it is not done through pharmacies here. This could be a role for them. In many cases pharmacists are the first step. When people are ill they go to the pharmacist. They may then be able to get a GP appointment and then go to hospital if the system works. Does Mr. Gloster see pharmacists as having an enhanced role, particularly with regard to the capacity element?