Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Minister for Health and Children is next due to take questions in the House on 5 March and that four Ministers of State are preparing to meet her in delegation to address the crisis in community pharmacy? Will he ask the Chief Whip to reschedule the ministerial order for questions in order that the Minister for Health and Children can come before the House before the 1 March deadline for the withdrawal of the drugs payment scheme facilitation of customers seeking services through pharmacies throughout the State? Does the Taoiseach not agree that is a very important issue, with a crisis looming, that requires special address, and the place to have it addressed is here on the floor of the Dáil. We have facilitated time and again the reshuffling of ministerial questions. This Minister is not presenting herself for accountability. She has deferred——

See this speech in context