Results 1,781-1,800 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: Immediately. There will be no time delay.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: I wish to ask about the need to review the matter because it may not work out as we envisage. What will happen if a doctor and pharmacist are husband and wife? How will the Bill affect this?

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: It is allowed for.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: I am conscious that it can be difficult to trace companies. People may own property in the name of a company. Therefore, it could be difficult to trace who owns such a building.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: Are there any plans to review the issue?

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: We are taking a majority of amendments. Will the Minister clarify whether there is a need for hospital pharmacists to register as retail pharmacy businesses and whether three years' retail pharmacy experience is necessary for a hospital pharmacist?

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: If a person knowingly contravenes a provision of a code or makes a declaration or disclosure to the society that is false and is proven subsequently to be false or misleading, what sanctions are in place to address that, or will such a contravention be deemed an offence?

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: I want to make two points. It is unfortunate the legislation does not specify that representatives of patient advocacy groups will be included on the council. I have been involved with the group MRSA and Families which has done great work in promoting awareness of MRSA. It is important to acknowledge the role of the public and the patient advocacy groups and this could be specified in the...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: The Minister has stated she is of the opinion that Oireachtas Members should be debarred from membership. I do not like a blanket ban and would prefer if people were considered on an individual basis. Senator Henry has a wealth of experience in the medical world which is not matched by any of us and Senator Feeney has a wealth of experience from the Medical Council. I am always concerned...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: But what if he or she is already a member of the council?

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: It would not be a case of declaring an interest and continuing.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: I reiterate an earlier point about the need to review. The council will publish the code of conduct and lay it before both Houses of the Oireachtas, but I wonder could we insert a review on the operation of it on a two or three-year basis. Like much legislation which comes before this House, we all get enthusiastic and think it will work brilliantly and, unfortunately, a few months or years...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: On the point I raised, the Minister is agreeing with me but yet failing to put it in stone.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: Why not?

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: But that proves the point.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: In the previous general election and Seanad election——

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: With respect to the Minister, following the previous general election, and no doubt the same will be the case following the next general election, there was a turnover of over one third of the Houses of the Oireachtas between Members retiring, Members who, unfortunately, will not get re-elected and new Members being elected. I speak not of a review every few years but that we agree to even...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: A review of the Bill and, I suppose, the code of conduct is linked into it.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: The point I make is that the Minister has admitted that it has taken many years for this Bill to come about in the first place, and no doubt her intentions are honourable in so far as she would, if she were re-elected and reappointed Minister for Health and Children, do as she stated. The danger is that she might not be reappointed as Minister and there could be a new Minister in place. In...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: I doubt it. There is an advantage in providing on Report Stage an option of reviewing the entire procedure approximately three years from the date of enactment of the Bill. As it is major legislation, we would do everyone a service.