Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Minister for Health and Children has instructed the HSE to implement a new contract for community pharmacists in just over two weeks. This has caused much anxiety among people who use the GMS system, who number well over 1 million and are among the most vulnerable in our society, that they will not be able to obtain their medicines after 1 March. There is currently a stand-off between the HSE and the pharmacists. At yesterday's five hour meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, which is to resume this morning, it was made perfectly clear by the representatives of the HSE that they had been instructed by the Minister for Health and Children to implement this new contract by 1 March.

What contingency plans does the Taoiseach have to ensure that substantial numbers of elderly and vulnerable people and children who avail of medical cards will be able to obtain their medicines after 1 March if this stand-off continues? This is causing considerable stress to many people. This party does not condone any precipitate action, either by the pharmacists or by the HSE, that will reduce the level of services. What are the Taoiseach's contingency plans after 1 March?

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