John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I am sorry I was not available to speak on Second Stage but I wish to comment on this amendment. I am perturbed about the omission of pharmacists. I should declare an interest in that I own a pharmacy. I am not a qualified pharmacist but I have worked in a pharmacy and I am aware that the Minister of State is a pharmacist. Nevertheless, I have a certain amount of expertise about the role of a pharmacist and how pharmacists operate.

Under legislation that is due to be enacted in spring 2006 in Northern Ireland and the UK, pharmacists will be able to prescribe in Northern Ireland. In the Border counties it might be more attractive for a patient to seek prescription drugs across the Border but this will give rise to jurisdiction, accountancy and records problems if that patient were subsequently to become ill and be hospitalised. I am seriously concerned that we will not have any access to the records and will not know what has been prescribed. This leaves us exposed in an important area of control and regulation.

I am not suggesting that because the UK introduces legislation we should necessarily follow suit. At present, pharmacists prescribe over the counter controlled medicines but it is a major omission in the Bill that we have not given serious consideration to the principle of pharmacists being allowed to prescribe in certain categories. Has any consideration been given by the Department to broadening the legislation, either now or on a later Stage, not only to include nurses and veterinary surgeons but also pharmacists?