Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I have a couple of follow-on questions from those raised by Deputy Regina Doherty and Senator Colm Burke. Unfortunately, there has been a huge increase in polydrug use and the abuse of prescription drugs. Given that the street value of benzodiazepines, known as "benzos", is quite high and that it is common for people to be addicted and to abuse such prescribed medications, is there a system in place whereby pharmacies dispensing the medication can talk to each other in case a person gets multiple prescriptions from GPs? I am aware that a report was commissioned by the Department on prescribing patterns. We all have anecdotal evidence of certain parts of the city or the country where benzos are prescribed more often than in others. Perhaps the witnesses would speak about that issue.

In the past couple of years, pharmacists have been able to dispense emergency contraception, known as the morning-after pill, for which there appears to be a huge variance in price, ranging from €9 to €45. The Union of Students in Ireland currently has a lobby on this issue, although it has limited funds. This may link in with the minor ailments scheme. A student or young person in need of the emergency pill cannot get it on her medical card but must go to her doctor for a prescription. For me, that defies the whole logic of being able to walk into a community pharmacy, as there issues that may surround the emergency pill for such young women in terms of stigma. In Portugal emergency contraception is free, in the UK it costs €7, and in Belgium it costs €15. In Ireland there appears to be a huge variation, with prices ranging from €9 to €45 for the emergency contraceptive pill.