Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of recent difficulties between the Health Service Executive and the pharmacies, meetings or negotiations have taken place between her Department and the Irish Pharmaceutical Union; the meetings that have taken place; and the plans she has to meet this sector or if there is a mediation process that can be put in place to try and progress the discussions between her Department and the pharmacies. [29168/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Health Service Executive (HSE) has operational responsibility, under the Health Act 2004, for the management and delivery of health and personal social services no direct meetings have taken place between my Department and the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) on the matters referred to by the Deputy.

To address concerns expressed by the IPU, on behalf of community pharmacists, about the implications of recent legal advice on competition law on their right to negotiate fees through the Union, a process of dialogue was established, chaired by Bill Shipsey SC, to explore ways in which concerns raised by the IPU about the implications of this legal advice might be addressed. Despite suspension of this process during the recent withdrawal by individual pharmacists of methadone services, there has recently been renewed engagement between the Irish Pharmaceutical Union and the HSE under the auspices of Mr. Shipsey.