Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We had a positive debate on the pricing and supply of medical goods with the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, yesterday and the House wanted her to be more radical. She was speaking about reductions of 30%, but we were wondering whether reductions of 80% could be provided for. It emerged during the debate that the regulatory impact analysis had not been circulated to Senators. Apparently, we were meant to find it on the Department's website. The custom whereby a regulatory impact analysis is circulated with the explanatory memorandum and the Bill should be reinstated. The information in question should be supplied to Senators retrospectively. It is important for it to be supplied to Members of the Dáil before they discuss this legislation in order that they do not have to look for it on the website of the Department of Health. I ask the Leader to consider these suggestions. The documentation should have been circulated in advance of the debate. If it was an oversight, it should be remedied. As a principle, the regulatory impact analysis should be circulated with the explanatory memorandum and the legislation in every case. Such an approach would have been of assistance during last night's debate. Although it was a positive debate, it could have been even more positive if this had been done. This defect in the Department of Health's approach to the Seanad should be remedied.