Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It was extraordinarily professional and courageous.

I will not state what personalities would be acceptable because it would not be advisable to do so. The contract is between the pharmacists and the HSE, not between me and the pharmacists. Clearly, I have an important role to play in this regard and the meeting last night was very positive, but I do not want to say anything in the House that would jeopardise the positive outcome of the meeting. I understand there will be further talks in the coming days with a view to ensuring the development of a process acceptable to everybody. Mr. Bill Shipsey SC, who has done extraordinarily useful work in this regard, will have an important role to play in putting forward what I hope will be a solution to this problem.

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