Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The Minister probably does not remember the actions taken against the Irish Kennel Club and breeders of dogs.

On both sides of the House, both in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, there is a group of new neocon Deputies who are very influenced by the Republican Party right wing in the United States. We heard some on this side of the House speak last night, while some of the Minister's colleagues spoke earlier. The point is that in Ireland the pharmacy provides a valuable service. There is a legal problem and this Bill seeks to remedy it. A number of Ministers have said that the Labour Party Bill is not perfect. So be it, but they have the resources to correct the Bill's imperfections. Deputy Higgins is willing to have the Government accept the Bill and use its resources to work on and correct its defects.

The Health Service Executive is, in effect, eroding the traditional independent pharmacy in this country. I suspect the HSE would be happier dealing with a single pharmaceutical network of companies, many of which in turn would own the pharmacies. That would be the end of the independent pharmacy sector. Deputy Higgins spoke about the impact on Actors Equity. The pharmacy sector is an important adjunct in people's everyday lives as a place they can go for medical advice.

This Bill is timely. The comments of the Minister, Deputy Martin, and the Minister of State, Deputy McGuinness, are somewhat conciliatory and, in the context of the European judgment reaffirming the right to free association as a fundamental right, I hope they and the Government will reconsider their approach to the Bill.

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