Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

As somebody who has represented Tallaght skilfully for over 20 years, the Minister will be well aware that Tallaght is all about national issues and what happens in Tallaght today can happen in the rest of the country tomorrow. I am not from Tallaght but I represent Tallaght. I also represent Brittas, Bohernabreena, Firhouse, Templeogue and Greenhills. I bring to my Dáil business my own life experiences as much as possible. I am not only a Member of the Dáil for a major population centre but am also the Government convenor on the Joint Committee on Health and Children with colleagues, including Deputy Gormley. I have a background also in local authorities and was a member of the then Eastern Health Board from 1994. I was the founder chairman of the South Western Area Health Board. I have also had other experiences which help me in a debate like this one. As I said to some people this morning, as a small child growing up in Crumlin I was always aware of the importance of the local chemist and conscious of the role chemists played. I knew if I went into a sweet shop I would get sweets but if I went into a chemist I would get a sugar barley stick that younger Members might not remember. I make the point that even in those days, and I am from a bygone age — I am not ashamed to admit that — chemists had that role and I am glad that remains the case. That should be said in the context of this debate.

My colleague, Deputy Crowe, spoke about drug services, which I will refer to, and Deputy Gormley raised the challenges facing the Irish Pharmaceutical Union, which I will refer to also. I do not want to refer to my own constituency only but the Chair will be aware that I am proud of Tallaght and my constituency. A strong pharmacy network has been developed throughout the constituency and I have made the point on many occasions in the Dáil and elsewhere that we must continue to develop that network.

The Minister and I have often discussed an estate in my parish, Fettercairn, which still does not have general practitioner services, health centre services or a pharmacy. It is important that we consider all our communities and understand the importance of the pharmacy in the life of a community. I have already mentioned the impact it had on my childhood. I live in Springfield, in Tallaght, which has three pharmacists, which is amazing. They all provide a tremendous community service. It is important we encourage that and make the point that in all areas, whether in Clondalkin, Lucan or north Dublin, those community services are important.

Colleagues spoke earlier about the conflict in terms of who should provide services and where they should be located. Deputy Gormley referred to the Minister's amendment in the Seanad yesterday, and I understand the position to be as he outlined it. I understand also from a document I read yesterday that the Irish Pharmaceutical Union has concerns about the business relationships that can develop between doctors and pharmacists. I understand the organisation has indicated it is concerned that the development of business relationships between the doctors could have the potential to put safety at risk and reduce patient choice. I am glad the IPU has welcomed the Minister's intervention during the week in that regard.

There has been a positive development in terms of health centre resources in my community, particularly in Tallaght, where I live. I have already mentioned Millbrook Lawns health centre which, eight years after the fire, is still not developed. I am putting pressure on the Department and the Health Service Executive at local level to ensure that is done. Meanwhile, Tallaght has seen major progress as far as the development of primary care centres is concerned. There is an excellent centre in Jobstown, the Mary Mercer Centre, which I understand the Minister has visited, which provides essential, first class centres. There are also GP centres in Brookfield and Killinarden. I apologise to the Chair for mentioning every estate in Tallaght——

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