Results 101-120 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

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 agree with the previous speakers. Yesterday I telephoned the Bills Office numerous times and was told the amendments would be ready at 4 p.m. but they eventually arrived at 8.30 p.m. I am not being critical of the Bills Office but of the Government and the way it has handled this. It is very unfair that so many amendments have been tabled at the last minute and that they are all to be...

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

Fergal Browne: I will restate some points I made during the Second Stage debate on the Bill. A prescription is valid nationwide; a prescription written by a doctor can be used in any pharmacy in Ireland. Is the HSE planning to have this stated clearly on prescriptions in the near future? I am aware it is drawing up guidelines in this regard. However, so doing would help remove any misconception or...

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

Fergal Browne: I welcome what the Minister said and urge that prescription validity be written on prescriptions immediately. No reason exists to delay it. The sooner it is done the better and the matter can be solved quickly. People are unhappy about the key money aspect and I cannot blame them. Perhaps the actions of the private sector are a reflection of the void which exists at present. During my 30...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: Committee, Report and Final Stages of the Pharmacy Bill will be taken today. If Committee Stage is completed, will it be possible to have a break to enable us to submit amendments for Report and Final Stages? It is unusual to deal with all those Stages together and normally it does not happen in this House. This is a important Bill and involves many serious issues. It is also unusual that...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: It is more than that. That was just a factor.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: On a point of information, I was referring to those who qualified under different circumstances.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: I was referring to older pharmacists.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: As long as it stays on the skin one is fine. If it goes into one's blood, one is finished.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: Fine Gael welcomes this Bill as a way of meeting the challenge of guaranteeing public safety. The past number of years have brought significant changes to the role of pharmacies in Ireland and we need to plan for the future. The Minister stated her intention to introduce amendments on Committee Stage. However, we have not yet seen these amendments. It would be helpful to us if we could...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: I did not see that provision in the Bill. Fine Gael would have preferred the Minister to have established a public patient safety authority, which would have given patients a stronger voice and better safeguards. Conflict of interest is a key issue for this Bill. A doctor centre will open in Carlow presently which will include a pharmacy. We need to ensure that any pharmacy located in a...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: That is okay. The Minister is very well behaved compared with the Minister for Finance when he was in the House two week ago.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: The role of hospital pharmacists is another issue. I was amazed to learn such people exist. I visited St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny recently and I saw its huge pharmacy. I did not know hospitals had pharmacies, which dispense not only within the hospital but also to smaller hospitals nearby. Hospital pharmacists have reservations about the legislation and they are wondering whether they...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Fergal Browne: The problem is years ago people could train to be a pharmacist by doing an apprenticeship and, therefore, a different system was in place. Are many people who came through this system still in the industry? While they may not have the qualifications required nowadays, they can still make a significant contribution. There is concern that they will be forced out of business because of the...