Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion. We have witnessed another exposé that sickens many people to their stomachs. Some of the staff are on huge money while many others have had their pay cut by 10%. A large multinational was able to set up a system to generate more income for a period under the HSE's radar. The HSE says that when all the medication was dispensed to a patient on the same date, Lloyds was only entitled to a €5 fee, yet it was claiming an additional €3.75 from the executive. The company increased its dispensing fees by 66%. This is significant increase not to be noticed quickly. I could understand an 8% or 10% increase going unnoticed. Employees would notice a 66% increase in their wages and would quickly ask their employer what the hell was going on.

Questions remain to be answered about where this overpayment came from. The motion seeks detail on how those accountable will be held responsible. That is an important question. The last people who should be held responsible are the staff who were instructed to do this by the top pharmacists. I recall talking to local small pharmacists in Dublin who found it hard to get refunds from the HSE. There were delays of weeks and months.

I am glad the Minister said this issue is being seriously checked by the regulator under the Pharmacy Act 2007. What will follow on from that? I understand that a superintendent pharmacist representing Lloyds is on the regulator's committee. How is that person being dealt with? When the regulator examines the issue, should that person be on the committee? Obviously, he or she should remove themselves from the role.

This issue exposes how large multinationals use schemes such as this to undermine small pharmacies. They have gone to the wall quickly trying to compete with them. The multinationals wipe them out and then provide the only outlets where patients can get their prescriptions filled. Like previous speakers, I support the proposal for a national pharmacy co-operative to dispense drugs to people at the prices they should be sold at. Only last April, the Government diverted €12 million from mental health services to general health services. I hope this issue is brought before the courts and people challenged about it because, as Deputy Pringle said, if a social welfare recipient had inadvertently collected €200 or €1,000, one would not see his or her heels for dust getting him or her into the courts. I hope to see the same vigorous approach to this.

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