Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the High Court's decision (details supplied), her Department and the Health Service Executive can negotiate with professional representative bodies in order to advance proposed changes within the services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45491/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am considering the legal, financial and service implications of the judgment of Justice Finlay-Geoghegan in the Hickey Pharmacy case. The judgment confirms that, under the terms of the Community Pharmacy Contract or Agreement, I have the power to alter the payments to pharmacists after consultation with the Irish Pharmacy Union. I intend, very shortly, to begin a consultation process, in order to achieve significant savings in the pharmaceutical distribution chain.

To my knowledge there is no suggestion that the judgment has any wider implications for negotiations with professional representative bodies in general.