Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views in relation to a submission (details supplied); the action she is taking to address such concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30041/07]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views in relation to a submission (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30043/07]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will have a submission (details supplied) investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30046/07]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views in relation to documentation (details supplied); if the contents are in line with her Department's views in relation to the agreements entered into by her Department or the Health Service Executive and the wholesale suppliers sector; if not, the action that she is proposing or taking to resolve the matter; the number of meetings she or the officials of her Department has had with the HSE, the wholesale groups and all groups; if such meetings as stated have shown such disagreement as noted in the documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29395/07]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she or her officials have had meetings with representatives of a group (details supplied); if so, the result of such meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29396/07]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position of the dispute as determined by her Department in relation to the Irish Pharmaceutical Union and the Health Service Executive; the action proposed by her to overcome these problems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29397/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she or her Department received correspondence from the Irish Pharmaceutical Union in relation to the pharmacy dispute; if she has proposals to address the issue raised; when this matter is expected to be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29935/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 to 194, inclusive, 212 to 214, inclusive, and 264 together.

My Department has received correspondence from the Irish Pharmaceutical Union and other interested parties concerning the new reimbursement pricing arrangements for drugs and medicines under the GMS and community drugs schemes. Officials from my Department have met with the HSE on a number of occasions to discuss wholesaler and pharmacy issues. I have also, with officials from my Department, met with the organisations, including the one named by the Deputy, representing the wholesaler sector. These meetings covered a wide agenda and the discussions that took place were frank but very useful in seeking to move this process forward. As the Health Service Executive 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 on the matters referred to.

I have previously outlined in detail to the Oireachtas the legal provisions under competition law which prevent the Health Service Executive from negotiating with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union on fees, prices or margins for their members. When it became clear that the HSE could not negotiate with pharmacists or wholesalers on fees or margins, a detailed, fair and transparent consultation process, including independent economic analysis and public consultation, was carried out to inform the final determination of the new reimbursement pricing arrangements for drugs and medicines under the GMS and community drugs schemes. These new arrangements were announced by the HSE on 17 September 2007.

In regard to the new reimbursement prices, the main wholesaler companies have confirmed to the HSE that they will charge community pharmacists the same price for these drugs and medicines as pharmacists will be reimbursed by the HSE for these products. Furthermore, there are no changes planned by the HSE to the operation of the GMS medical card and community drugs schemes, and all patients continue to receive their entitlements in the normal way. My Department understands that the HSE has not received formal notification from any community pharmacist regarding cessation of services under the GMS and community drugs schemes. I do not accept that some pharmacists may not be able to continue to provide a service under the GMS and community drug schemes, nor do I accept there is any basis for community pharmacists threatening to withdraw from these schemes and it would be disappointing if some pharmacists seek to threaten and scare the most vulnerable members of our society in this manner.

To address concerns expressed by the IPU, on behalf of community pharmacists, about the implications of the 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 the 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. I am also exploring in consultation with the Attorney General, the other relevant Departments, and the HSE the best way of progressing the development of a new contract with pharmacists.