Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when sections of an Act (details supplied) will be brought before Dáil Éireann. [22752/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The sections of the Act which the Deputy refers to are included in the third, and final, stage of the implementation process for the Pharmacy Act 2007. This final stage deals with the introduction of provisions under Part 6 of the Act (Complaints, Inquires and Discipline). The commencement process for the Act was planned as being a three stage process in view of the complexity and number of new policies and procedures to be implemented by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) under each stage (especially stages 2 and 3). The first stage of the process involved the establishment of a Council of the new PSI in May 2007 with a lay majority for the first time. The second stage, commenced and put into effect in November 2008, established a new regulatory regime, operated by the PSI, for the registration of pharmacists and retail pharmacy businesses. The third, and final stage of the commencement process will deal with the Complaints, Inquiries and Discipline provisions of the Act.

The PSI is currently in the process of drawing up rules and procedures for the implementation of Part 6 of the Act. Following the receipt, and examination of, these rules and procedures, I will be in a position to commence the final stage of the Pharmacy Act 2007. It is hoped to have this process completed in the autumn.