Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

Five minutes is not very much to take poetic licence. I agree with my colleague about ensuring that the public interest is maintained at all times. Yesterday I tabled an amendment to the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill to the effect that live broadcasting of proceedings in the House should be provided by way of a Dáil channel. I hope that comes to pass because it will bring the public into direct contact with their public representatives, which is nowhere more necessary than in regard to this Bill, about which we have heard for a long time. I am sad it has arrived at the end of the electoral run. Many more Members would have been prepared to debate the Bill on Second Stage and Committee Stage if more time had been made available. It is bad practice to introduce legislation at the last minute, no matter how good it might be.

Several points have come to my attention. The issue of allowing professionals from EU member states to practice in Ireland has been a bone of contention for a considerable time, and countless representations have been made to Members. The Bill will ensure the wealth of talent available at present can be utilised for the purposes envisaged, which is positive.

The profession of apothecary is one of the oldest in the world — I will not say which is the oldest but apothecary ranks with the rest. Apothecaries were originally associated with hairdressing in the United States, where the barber was also the chemist and apothecary, and there were signs to indicate the relationship. I hope this proposal will update the legislation, which should have been done before now, and bring into focus the most important element in any equation, namely, the consumer. I hope, as a result of the Bill, the consumer will receive a better quality of service and will be able to access medicines and prescriptions as and when required.

A number of services here are not as available as they used to be. I compliment those who provide this service. Chemists in this city and throughout the country provide an incredible service, seven days a week, 24 hours a day in some cases. This is very important because it may not be possible in many situations which happen at the weekend for a person to wait until Monday to get a prescription. I compliment those who have provided emergency services, including in my constituency — I will not name them as I am sure the Minister knows them as well as I do. They provide an invaluable service, which I hope will continue.

The Bill is supposed to encourage and enhance competition. One of the central planks of European law at present is the theme of competition. However, competition is supposed to serve the consumer, not those providing the service. It should not operate for the convenience of planners with regard to the location of pharmacies but for the convenience of the public. Pharmacies must be in such geographic locations as to ensure all members of the public have ready and available access in so far as is possible. In the discussions she has had with the various interest groups, I hope the Minister will keep this in mind and that any regulations that apply as a result of the Bill will enhance this aspect.

The registration of pharmacies and pharmacists has been dealt with. It is a positive development that will take into account the whole operation of the pharmacy as well as those operating and presiding over the pharmacy. I note with regard to the council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland that there is provision for removing those who have a direct interest and introducing those with other interests. I presume the focus groups involved will take into account, first, the needs of those directly involved, namely, the pharmacists, and, second, the need to ensure the consumer is represented in some way.

In the old days, public representatives were a necessary requirement in this area on the basis that they had a good idea of what was happening and what was required, and they would receive many representations. They have been bypassed in more recent times and focus groups have been established which are believed to be the ultimate in terms of representation and answers. I hope this is the case. The purest form of democracy is the one we all must work under. The contrived form is when one tries to improve democracy and create new situations that are not necessarily as representative as we would like them to be. I hope this will not be the case arising from the Bill.

See this speech in context