Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

We are all right. We will get there yet. The Tánaiste has carefully considered the complex issues raised by the pharmacy review group. The memorandum outlines her plans to consolidate and update the existing legislation to provide for the safe and effective delivery of pharmaceutical services to all citizens in a comprehensive manageable and robust legislative framework. In particular it will address the education, training, registration and fitness to practice provisions for pharmacists and will incorporate recommendations from the pharmacy review group as necessary. That memorandum is being revised on foot of observations received and it is expected to come to Government shortly.

Without going through them all individually the Competition Authority expects to complete them all by the end of this year. It has already completed six. The professions involved are construction, medical, legal, engineers, architects, veterinary surgeons, solicitors, barristers, medical practitioners, dentists and optometrists. These will all be completed by the end of the year. A significant body of work is already finished. Each one of those areas raises its own problems with particular professional groups. They have all been challenged in the work that has been done by the Competition Authority and by the pharmacy review group.

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