Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While the Minister responded to all the amendments, the hook on which I hang my case is contained in the broad thrust of amendment No. 6. I am not asking that the order of the amendments be changed. However, will the Minister indicate his Department's view of the argument that it would aid the objective of increased generic substitution if general practitioners were to prescribe on the basis of the active ingredient rather than the branded product? There may be a variety of situations in which that prescribing methodology does not suit. Will the Minister assist the Deputies in determining whether to proceed with the amendments that seek to delete a whole chapter and other sections? It is not the Deputies’ fault that we have to address this matter earlier due to the sequencing of amendments. Will the Minister give us an insight into the Government’s position on the thrust of amendment No. 6? That would be helpful in deciding whether I should proceed with amendment No. 5 and the other amendments grouped with it.

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