Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Some doctors were not too happy with my comments in that regard but, as a Member of this House, I represent the public as well as my electorate and I felt it necessary to speak out about a situation which was detrimental to competition and to rural towns. In some towns there is only one pharmacy and that is attached to a big practice. Between €1 million and €2 million is being asked in so called hello money for pharmacies and, as the saying goes, "If you are not in you cannot win". It is a major challenge and the Minister must be aware of it.