Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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In fairness, the price increase was 260% before the unemployment figures started to increase. It happened between 2000 and 2008. That was when the big jump occurred - before the unemployment figures and the number of medical cards started to increase. It appears that it was a case of who was prepared to sign the blank cheque. There seems to have been very little control by the HSE and the Department, which was a concern I had. Once prices are increased, it is very difficult to try to go back because people who own pharmacies have spent money - they were able to spend based on their turnover - and are now running into difficulties trying to service that expenditure, which is a huge challenge.