Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I wish to focus on specific issues and I would appreciate it if the Minister would examine them. The most commonly used medication products are those for diabetes, morphine and ostomy products. I understand that the wholesale price of the insulin Lantus OptiSets — Deputy Reilly will probably correct my pronunciation — is €64.04 and the projected reimbursement of that is €58.92. If 30 of those are sold in a month, which is standard in a small pharmacy, the new arrangements would mean a loss of €150. The wholesale rate for ostomy bags — the reference no. is 28335 — is €127.59 while the reimbursement rate under the new scheme would be €117.38, some €20 in the difference. A 30 milligram injection of morphine at wholesale rate is €15.99; the reimbursement rate under the new scheme, €14.71. These are just three examples. The more high-tech the drug, the larger the loss to the pharmacist.

Will the Minister ask the Dorgan group to examine the wholesale issue? There is a lack of understanding as to the impact this will have at HSE level. If we could expand the terms of reference for the Dorgan group to examine the wholesale issue and separate it from the fee-per-item, we will have done some service. The projected fee of €5 per item is far too low. I hope the Dorgan group will have the capacity to deal with that.

I have every confidence in Seán Dorgan. When chief executive officer of IDA Ireland, he attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment; I found him to be frank and fair and not supinely supporting the Government line. He will do a good job.

The issue his group requires to give most analysis to is the number of young pharmacists who in recent years bought into pharmacies on the back of the 2002 reforms. At that time, people were told there would be closures but it has been the opposite. People who bought in on those reforms are in a difficult situation because of the overnight reform of this sector. Specific attention must be given by Seán Dorgan to those who bought into pharmacies in the intervening period and the impact the proposed changes will have.

It is regrettable that the work done at the health committee is being degraded in the Chamber. I have seen how Deputy Moloney chairs meetings, many in difficult circumstances. Long-serving Members have never seen any committee with such high attendance and participation. Deputy Moloney chaired the meeting on the dispute and dealt with all issues, the IPU and the HSE fairly which was accepted by everyone involved. It is unfortunate to see his efforts, done in the best interests of the House, being degraded in the interests of cheap political point-scoring.

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