David Norris (Independent)

I formally thank the Minister of State for his reply but, as he will no doubt understand, it is completely unsatisfactory even from an intellectual and logical point of view. I understand the Minister of State was merely reading it but his script acknowledged a particular situation with particular consequences and then offered a garbled generalised response which is not a solution. It depends on the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to do this, that or the other. That society has received €1,500 from students, an enormously inflated fee, but what is it doing?

These students are already qualified or fairly well so. They are senior sophomores in their final year who have slaved and done the work that is a required part of their course. Is the Minister of State seriously suggesting that it is the responsibility of the PSI rather than that of the Government and the HSE to ensure that these students are permitted to complete the course to which they are entitled? It beggars belief.

I made my point and, judging by his facial expression and occasional nods, the Minister of State appears to understand it. I know he is not the Minister principally involved, who is the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, a woman for whom I have considerable regard. I ask the Minister of State to transmit to her the necessity to be prepared to meet representatives of these students and to iron out this matter for once and for all. They cannot be left in limbo over the summer. It is just not human.