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

Deputy Gormley raised the issue of whether pharmacists should be in health centres or located elsewhere. I am aware from talking to doctors that there are different views on that but there are many pharmacists throughout my constituency and in particular in the Tallaght area and the interests of patients are best served if they can access GP services in the first class, modern facilities now provided in places like the Mary Mercer Centre in Jobstown, get a prescription and get it filled at the local pharmacy by professionals.

I am not ashamed to remind the House that I faced a health challenge eight years ago when I had a heart attack. It was a mild attack but it was serious for me. It interrupted my work as cathaoirleach of South Dublin County Council, and I used my politics to get back to work as quickly as possible. I am always positive about that illness but I got great support from my local pharmacy, and still do. Somebody asked me recently — I think they were trying to wind me up — if I was on many tablets but I said I was only taking an aspirin and a Lipostat, which I get from my local pharmacist who provides a first-class service. As a local politician I am often tempted to go to all the pharmacists in my area. I buy my comb and cough lozenges in other pharmacies but I get my tablets from my local pharmacy. That is the type of service I and my constituents want to access. I do not want to get my prescription filled in Tesco. Competition is important but the role of the pharmacist is important in my community and communities throughout the country.

I am aware the Minister has examined that issue and I hope she will take account of the points being made in the debate. I am aware also that she understands the role of the local pharmacist in communities. If there was a change along the lines mentioned by Deputy Gormley, we should all understand that would mean that the people in Tallaght, for example, would be deprived of what I acknowledge is easy access to our local pharmacist. That is an essential community service appreciated by people and complements the work of local doctors. One can leave the doctor's surgery and go straight to the local pharmacy where one will be looked after in a professional way. We must understand the importance of that role and there is a strong view in the community that that should be maintained.

My constituency colleague, Deputy Crowe, referred to drug services, something I am always anxious to support countrywide but particularly in my own region. We must accept that there are difficulties in that regard and families are facing challenges. On more than one occasion recently I spoke in the Dáil in support of local services, stressing to the Minister, the Department and the HSE the need to continue to support drugs services in our community. In many parishes throughout Tallaght there are first class projects, including the St. Aengus parish in Tymon North, the St. Dominic's community response project, the JADD group in Jobstown, which I visited yesterday, the Tallaght rehabilitation project of which I am a board member and the launching of which the President recently attended in Kiltalown House, and the SWAN family support group in Alderwood in Springfield. These provide great services.

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