Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom cur leis an iarracht a rinneadh chun díospóireacht a eagrú sa Teach maidir leis na fadhbanna atá in Aerfort na Sionna agus sa réigiún sin go hiomlán.

I also call for this House to debate the serious situation that is developing whereby pharmacists are threatening to withdraw all services to medical card schemes from 1 September as a result of the change in payments initiated by the HSE. Several pharmacists in Donegal have told me that rural pharmacies will go out of business before the end of the year because most of their business — in some cases, as much as 90% — is dependent on medical card holders. These pharmacists inform me that the HSE's change will see many of them operating at a loss. The situation is acute in County Donegal and in other rural areas where the social and economic situation means there is a significant dependence on medical cards. There must be immediate Government intervention on this issue. Will the Leader organise a debate to be attended by the Minister for Health and Children?