Mr. Muiris O'Connor:

The Deputy referred to the expert task force. Its first recommendation was to facilitate the extension of prescriptions and the issuing of 12-month prescriptions. That was adopted, implemented and is in effect right now. The second phase of the work, as was described in earlier discussions of this Bill, was to move to explore an expansion of the scope of pharmacy and that it is supported. The Deputy articulated extremely well why that makes good sense. It is proposed that on Report Stage, while the task force is working very intensively on the detail of the scope, the safeguards, education, what ailments and established medicines will be in scope, that will all be determined and the task force is expected to report to the Minister by mid-June. We recognise now that legislation will be needed to support the implementation of the recommendations.