John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I spoke on only one aspect of this Bill on Committee Stage, namely, pharmacists, which was taken up again today. I reiterate that the Bill is lacking in that regard. In an era of cross-Border co-operation, particularly regarding the Border counties themselves, having two different regimes for prescribing medicines is difficult. It will be difficult from the perspective of medical records, and we will have no access to the records of a person availing of a pharmacist's prescription in Northern Ireland or the Border counties who is subsequently admitted to hospital in the Republic. I fully understand that there are professional and business interests associated with a pharmacist having the power to prescribe.

At no stage did I ever suggest that there be a general prescription. However, in co-operation between GPs, patients and pharmacists, we could remove a burden from the health system through allowing, with the proper protocols and procedures in place, pharmacists to prescribe, particularly in the case of repeat prescriptions. I had hoped that the Bill might introduce provisions to enable the Minister at some stage to make regulations to give effect to pharmacists prescribing when the time is right and when the right protocols are in place. I regret that this Bill has not addressed that issue.

Outside that, the Bill is necessary, and I welcome it. I thank the Minister of State and his officials for their work.