Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I see new applications for planning permission in rural towns and often find there is only one pharmacy, and that will not give rise to competition. Typically, a door leads from the medical practice to the pharmacy, through which one must go to leave the building. There are two shop fronts but shared access so it is very convenient to get one's prescription from the friendly pharmacy without having to drive further down the town. That is not addressed in the Bill, which does not impose any restrictions in that regard. The new society will have no power to restrict pharmacies as to where they are located. Many IPU members are engaged in such an arrangement to the detriment of other members and will have the benefit of the arrangement into the future.

It would be beneficial if medical practices completed prescriptions clearly and they should be printed rather than scribbled. Non-nationals will be allowed to dispense drugs and it is very important a prescription is clear and contains no ambiguity as to the drug, the number of days for which it is prescribed and the number of tablets required. We should not allow non-nationals to practise in Ireland unless we have reciprocal rights in their country. The Minister should ensure, through the Bill, that Irish pharmacists have the right to practice in Northern Ireland, Britain, France, Italy or wherever. We are entitled to seek reciprocal rights in this area.

I commend the Minister on introducing the Bill. She will hopefully get it through the Dáil before the end of its lifetime.

I compliment pharmacists on the work they do. During the time in which I have been involved in public life, pharmacists have received only the highest praise in respect of that work. They dispense drugs to the public and provide great advice. Many people receive a great deal of advice from their pharmacists and are often cured as a result. In some instances, pharmacists do not receive the same rewards as the doctors who provide people with prescriptions.