Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It is not late in the day. What was proposed was a new hospital for Crumlin costing €400 million and one for Temple Street, which would cost another €200 million. It might well be that we can get the right answer for much less. The HSE, with my approval, commissioned a consultancy report which it received yesterday. It is being discussed this morning at the HSE board meeting. I will be briefed later this evening and it will be published tomorrow.

There are to be two pharmacy Bills. One will deal with fitness to practise issues, which are important. The other will deal with services, physical premises and such issues, and that will be later in the year. We hope to have the first Bill in the first half of this year. As for the chief pharmacist, the former incumbent is working in the Department of Health and Children at present on a consultancy basis.

The Minister for Education and Science has told me she received the Martin report in January. She is studying it and intends to publish it within a few weeks.

As for the IMC report, there are clearly issues surrounding criminality. One hopes that by the time of the next report substantial progress will have been made in this regard. There is no role in a parliamentary democratic system for those involved in criminal activity.

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