Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

From the information I have been given, people who work in hospital pharmacies may have different qualifications. Will their qualifications and experience be recognised by the new body?

The pharmacy industry has a good system in place in New Zealand. Pharmacists sit down with their patients to discuss the prescribed medicine and how it should be taken. It is all fair and well for a doctor to prescribe medicine and a pharmacist to dispense it but if the patient does not take it, that is counterproductive. It is difficult to ensure a patient is taking the prescribed medicine correctly. Perhaps the New Zealand model should be embraced.

I welcome the provision whereby people from outside Ireland can own and operate a pharmacy but this is not reciprocated for Irish pharmacists who move to Northern Ireland. I appreciate this issue is outside the Minister's control but it may be worthwhile for her to take it up with her Northern Ireland counterparts. She should discuss with them whether this could be extended to allow Irish pharmacy graduates to open a pharmacy in Northern Ireland. That would be an example of cross-Border co-operation. Given that such a provision will be introduced under this legislation, why should the Northern Ireland authorities not do likewise for our citizens?