Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

I refer to a subject which is close to my own heart. Pharmacists are allegedly imposing mark-ups of between 70% and 350% on the wholesale price of prescription drugs for private customers, resulting in medicine costing significantly more than in other EU countries. In light of these prices, many people are travelling north of the Border to avail of less expensive medicines resulting in a significant loss to the Irish Exchequer as well as collateral damage to other businesses losing shopping customers in the Republic.

I am aware of two families from the midlands of this country who travel to the North once a month. They live in two different counties in the midlands and they travel to the North for better value from pharmacists. They fill their cars with groceries to make the journey worthwhile. We should do what we can. The unnecessary and unjustifiable cost to the Exchequer of inflated medicines in situations where the State is meeting the cost of prescription medicines is another factor that must be investigated. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, to attend the House at his earliest convenience to make a statement outlining the steps he is taking to tackle the enormous mark-up imposed on essential medicines by pharmacies, and to state what progress has been made in delivering better value for prescription medicines for members of the public?