Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 152: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there are means by which a pharmacist trained outside the EEA, Australia or New Zealand may register to practise here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10138/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

To be eligible to register as a pharmacist in Ireland, a candidate must have completed a recognised degree in pharmacy and have undergone a year's training in practice. The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, PSI, is the professional organisation for pharmacy in Ireland. All practising pharmacists in Ireland must be registered with the PSI.

Pharmacists from outside the EU/EEA, Australia or New Zealand are registered under the adjudication route of the society. However, the PSI has experienced difficulties in the operation of this route of registration. In order to address these difficulties, the PSI submitted a proposal for amended regulations to the Minister at that time. However, the PSI's proposals for amended regulations are not possible under current legislation and an amendment to the Pharmacy Act is required. The PSI has suspended the adjudicating route of registration and are unable, at this time, to consider any application for registration under this route.

A Government decision was taken in June 2005 to introduce new pharmacy legislation. The legislation will take the form of a bill which will remove the 'derogation' on EU-EEA qualified pharmacists, introduce fitness to practice regulations and give an appropriate statutory basis for the PSI. It will also address the problems with adjudication route of registration. My Department is at an advanced stage in drawing up the heads and general scheme of a pharmacy fitness to practice Bill and I intend to take a memorandum to Government in the very near future, seeking approval for the draft heads and general scheme and requesting that the legislation be referred to the parliamentary counsel's office for formal drafting of the Bill.