Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

The Minister stated that no pharmacy will be asked to dispense medication at a loss. Does she take into account that pharmacies must pay overheads such as ESB bills, wages and all the rest, and that in effect they will lose out and go into the red due to the new pricing? On a specific matter, will the Minister accept from myself or any other Senator audited accounts from pharmacists? Will she run the numbers with regard to the interim offer she, the Department and the Government are willing to offer the pharmacists? Will she inform the House whether pharmacies will close due to what the Department is offering?