Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

Question 55: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the State's €65 million bill for drugs and medicines in hospitals and in the community which is significantly ahead of expectations; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in six of the country's major acute hospitals, drug costs increased by an average of 19%; her plans to address these rising costs; if she has plans to encourage use of generic drugs; if so the way in which she intends to do so and the timescale of this plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15472/06]

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