Results 9,881-9,900 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: Yes.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: It is because I listened to the contributions of Senators Ryan and Henry. I thought they made some very good suggestions. Does the Deputy want me to ignore them? Does he want me to ram the Bill through and ignore everybody?

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: I did not change it.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: The ownership of the building is not involved in this in any way. Pharmacists can own doctors' surgeries and vice versa. That is not affected. It is an interest in the practice——

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: It would be, for example, if the doctors had a beneficial interest in the pharmacy. Doctors own pharmacy buildings and vice versa — that will not be prohibited.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: If a doctor has a beneficial interest in a pharmacy business — not in the building, but in the business — or vice versa, there would be concerns if circumstances did not equate with normal market conditions, for example. My understanding is the anchor tenants are the doctors, not the pharmacists. We can thrash it out on Committee Stage.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: It is about having fair competition. There are no ethical politics involved.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: Not in all cases. There must be a supervisory pharmacist in charge of every retail pharmacy. In respect of a corporation, there must be an overall person in charge who is a pharmacist.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy knows, there is a range of sanctions, which include censure and admonishment. Ultimately, these matters will be determined in the courts because like all regulation of this kind, everybody has the right to appeal the decision to the High Court where it could ultimately be determined. It is not administered in terms of a percentage allocation. For example, if a pharmacist was...

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: It may not be the corporation. It may be one or the other or both.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: They have a right to do that, as they do in respect of all regulations. The courts ultimately make these decisions. We cannot give those kinds of judicial powers to regulatory bodies.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: The amendment we passed last night applies to whistleblowing in respect of all services procured on behalf of the HSE so it would apply to somebody making a complaint to the regulatory body. They are protected.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: It applies when they are reporting to the regulatory body. I will check if this is correct.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: People reporting to regulatory bodies are protected. I have checked and that is correct.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: Under civil or employment rights law, they cannot be victimised or discriminated against.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: It applies to the business of the pharmacy.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: That obviously does not apply if one is selling make up. We do not regulate the sale of make up, lipstick and other cosmetics. One can buy very good stuff in many pharmacies, as I did this morning.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland is regulating the profession in terms of professional practice. It would not be a matter for the PSI if members have a problem with their planning permission or an issue arises with the Competition Authority about the sale of make-up.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: Only in regard to the practice of pharmacy.

Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Mar 2007)

Mary Harney: In fairness, they were well received by Deputy Twomey's party, as well as the Labour Party and the Independents. We did not introduce any measures with which Members there took issue. The Bill was not guillotined either.