Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I rise to support the request of my colleague, Senator Mark Daly, for a debate on the pharmaceutical issue. Like him, in recent days I was contacted by quite a number of pharmacists in the mid-west region. Many are proprietors of small shops and are far from the large multinationals such as Boots who are able to take on board some of the HSE proposals. Many of them are concerned they will not be able to keep staff employed or to keep their doors open. A certain amount of disinformation or confusion has come from the HSE. I am indebted to my colleague, Senator Geraldine Feeney, who advised me the Joint Committee on Health and Children hopes to bring both sides before it. This would be ideal. Let us have talks across the table without hiding behind propaganda. In supporting Senator Daly, I ask the Leader to advance this matter in his own way.