Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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I thank the witnesses for attending. It is important to go back - the Cathaoirleach has signalled that this issue will probably be revisited - to try to understand what is the blockage to nurse prescribing. It happens in other areas of medicine, especially with the advanced clinical nurse practitioners.

It is an obvious efficiency outcome and as the witnesses said, doctors may not be available but it is not enough for the committee to accept that there are territorial and remuneration issues here. This to me would speak to a very significant service advancement if this could be got over. I understand that we are dealing here with dangerous drugs in terms of what is being prescribed, particularly if nurses are prescribing opioids or methadone or whatever, if that is what is being suggested. These are trained healthcare professionals who take their work very seriously. This is a significant advancement and something the committee would want to be strident on.

I want to go back to the members on this point. They are before the committee today and they have privilege here. This may be their only opportunity to lay the case as to what is happening in the system whereby we cannot get approval for nurses prescribing.