Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Many of the important points have been made by other speakers. This is a complex issue. This legislation will not put to bed all the concerns expressed by clearly conflicting sets of interests. That reality will continue to present itself from time to time. I am not sure, having tried to inform myself, there is necessarily a formula that will satisfy all of these competing interests. I do not believe that is within any Minister's gift. However, we have a responsibility to ensure that the regulations made under the Bill are both enforceable and enforced. This includes, as many of these amendments refer to, areas directly affecting codes of conduct. This is very important.

This Bill has presented a major challenge. I have no doubt it should, of course, have been published a long time ago. It is seriously overtime but I also have no doubt it presented a challenge to the Minister and her Department. It certainly presented a challenge to the members of the various Opposition groupings in the House. However, we have a responsibility to try to steer the best legislation possible that will help copperfasten public confidence in the pharmacy sector and not only in the obvious way in terms of the traditional family pharmacy presence, in each of our respective communities, that have given long and much appreciated and valuable service to their respective hinterlands but the network across the State where anyone and everyone could, at any time, have to access and avail of the service provided. It is also concerned with the integrity of the sector.

Deputy Twomey has indicated the withdrawal of one of the amendments presented in this grouping but I am not sure which one. I am supportive of the broad thrust of the group of amendments as presented, to which the names of Deputy McManus and others have been appended. I am interested to hear what the Minister has to say in response and how willing she is to accommodate the thoughtful preparation of amendments by several Deputies in preparation for this Stage. I hope the approach will not be the traditional one of rejection, which we have heard so often.

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