Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The crux of the matter is that the wholesale margin in this country is more than double that found in any other country in Europe, including Northern Ireland. We must work to find a solution, which we have been doing. It is an enormous margin. I will not get into the side issue. This is simply a statement of fact. The Minister wants to agree a contract, which must be done. I said again this morning that the Minister is working to develop appropriate arrangements for the development of contracts and the setting of the fees payable.

The issue relates to the fees. Pharmacists have put their case to me, as they have done to every Deputy in this House. They are entitled to do so and have put their case well. The Minister said, and I repeat, that these arrangements may include the establishment of an independent body which would consider the nature of the service to be provided and all other relevant factors in each case and make recommendations to the Government in respect of the fees it considers appropriate. The composition of such a body, its terms of reference and the timescale for its work are among the matters to be considered in this regard.

I believe Deputy Kenny would agree with me that rather than us scaring and upsetting a large number of people, particularly older people, it would be reasonable for the sides to agree the contract. Based on the cases I have heard from individual pharmacists, I understand that the main issue that divides them is the fees element. The Minister has said that only then could we involve an independent arbitrator or body who would examine the fees issue. That does not seem to be an unreasonable position.

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