Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Two processes are under way. As late as 10 October, the Minister gave very solemn commitments about reversing FEMPI cuts. He told Deputy Brassil, who was a pharmacist in a previous life, that he would honour that, and that pharmacists are coming up with solutions and ideas. Why did the Minister give such a false impression on 10 October when he must have known that the HSE was planning on implementing €45 million worth of cuts to community pharmacies? The Tánaiste mentioned the regulations and the deadline of the end of December. Those same regulations apply to dentistry. The Minister has moved that on without any cuts ahead of 1 January yet the Government is piling €45 million worth of cuts on community pharmacies. The Tánaiste should go to his local pharmacy this weekend if he is looking for evidence. He should see how hard they are working, the hours they work and the extra services they provide that keep people away from GPs and emergency departments. I received an email from a pharmacist who stated that they feared for the profession of pharmacy and that all the good pharmacists would get tired of being the kicking boy of the PCRS and the HSE. That is how these professionals in primary care feel. I ask the Government not to introduce the cuts but to have the discussion around reversing FEMPI in a clear and honest manner and to respect community pharmacists.

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