Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I support the call for a debate on the pharmacy issue. I seek clarification on two points in that respect. The first is a statement by the Minister that the cost of supplying €1 billion worth of drugs in Ireland is €640 million. Therefore, two thirds of the cost of supplying those drugs is absorbed in profit margins and the administrative costs of the various people involved. That is an extraordinary figure. We need clarification of that figure. More to the point, the Government needs to clarify how it managed to get us into this situation, if it is true that the supply of drugs to people costs such a large amount of money.

I have heard representatives of the pharmacy union spell out the cuts they are willing to impose, but I treat that with some scepticism. I have rarely found turkeys who are willing to vote for Christmas, people who are willing to put in place their own cuts. I want to hear a response from the Minister for Health and Children on the IPU's proposals. If it is willing to come forward with proposals-----