Results 14,921-14,940 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

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

Mary Harney: Yes.

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

Mary Harney: I could say yes; the standard answer is that there will be constant reviews. The legislation has been awaited since 1875 and I know there were amendments in 1962. We should be realistic, as these are significant new powers and we must allow them to take their course. They will be broadly welcomed by both professions and certainly by the regulatory bodies.

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

Mary Harney: No. We are not making hospitals retail pharmacy businesses. What we are covering is a situation where hospitals supply drugs to outpatients, as happens with certain drugs. A person has to come back to hospital for a certain anti-depressant drug called Clozaril, which requires the taking of a blood test every two weeks because it can be highly dangerous. This can only be done in a hospital...

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

Mary Harney: They will be included in the register.

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

Mary Harney: They must do so under this legislation. As I understand it, they notify the society but will now have to register.

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

Mary Harney: Yes.

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

Mary Harney: The retail pharmacy will be covered in the normal way.

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

Mary Harney: I must be honest. I have a good and useful note and, rather than reading it, I will circulate it to Members. It is our latest clarification. I acknowledge that hospital pharmacists comprise an important group of professionals in the health care system. They are highly qualified and, while I do not want to offend anyone, they earn much less than their retail counterparts.

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

Mary Harney: We have met most of their concerns about the legislation, but there are issues relating to premises. Some of the hospital pharmacies I have seen are in pokey little places. If there were basements, that is where they would be. We are not addressing that issue in this legislation, but the jury is out on whether it should be dealt with in the second Bill or through the licensing regime for...

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

Mary Harney: Yes. As they supply drugs, they also fall under the same supply provisions as retail community pharmacies. From now on, all hospital pharmacies must be registered. I do not know how many of our 53 acute hospitals have pharmacy departments. While 49 of the 53 hospitals are registered and there are other settings with pharmacy departments, all such places must be registered under the Bill....

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

Mary Harney: No. It is important to have a career structure in the hospital pharmacy sector. I understand that there are three levels. One must have three years of experience to go from the basic level to the next level and five years to go from the basic level of the supervisory level. I do not propose changing that good career structure. Instead of 70 graduates, there will be 160. This year, many...

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

Mary Harney: Not if they are not dispensing.

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

Mary Harney: To address Senator Browne, spouses are specifically mentioned in the amendment. In case the Senator is worried, we are not preventing them from marrying one another.

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

Mary Harney: It is in the context of pharmacists. We are not regulating home carers through the pharmacy society.

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

Mary Harney: I misunderstood. I believed the Senator was suggesting that we should include those people. Someone must be conducting a business within the meaning of the Act to fall under these provisions. The people referred to by the Senator, whose opinion I share, would not be in that position. Recently, I was told by a medical officer in my Department that half the people on blood pressure tablets...

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

Mary Harney: We have provided for continuity. We are proposing some amendments on how the new people will be elected, etc., under the old society. I am advised that we have provided for continuity.

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

Mary Harney: Níl mo chuid Gaeilge chomh flúirseach is a bhí. I am happy to accept the point the Senator has made. I will consult the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel to ensure the wording of the amendment is correct. If it is, I will revisit it on Report Stage.

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

Mary Harney: I think I can accept this amendment, subject to it being in order. The Senator has made a valid point. If there is a problem with it, we can change it later.

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

Mary Harney: I will accept this amendment.

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

Mary Harney: Senator Henry has already spoken about this issue.