Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I agree with the Minister's aim to save €100 million on the costs of drugs to the HSE. However, I vehemently disagree with her uncompromising method of achieving that end. The Minister may be proud of being Machiavellian but it is an approach I deplore. A recent letter to The Irish Times pointed out the Minister is showing an iron fist to community pharmacists, a fist she lacked when setting up the HSE and failed to implement a rationalisation of health board employees.

Community pharmacists are an easy target for the Minister. Her approach also threatens patients and will cause unemployment and undue hardship. To comprehend the issue, I called a public meeting for pharmacists in Galway and attended one. The IPU, the body the Minister has fought and refused to meet——