Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader arrange for a discussion, on the next occasion the Minister for Health and Children comes into the House, on the future role of community pharmacists? Will the Leader also brief us on the negotiations under way between the Health Service Executive and the pharmacists' representatives in respect of the dispute about their fees? There has been extensive media coverage of this dispute. Having spoken to pharmacists in my area, it is my understanding that the public perception that they abruptly cut off the supply of methadone to clients is incorrect. Any pharmacists providing methadone to patients ensured appropriate arrangements were in place to allow such patients to continue——