Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the contacts she has had with community pharmacists in respect of her announcements regarding the cost of drugs and medicines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26261/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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On 18 June 2009, I announced details on the reduction of payments to community pharmacists under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. A public consultation, under the Act, took place in March 2009 where all interested stakeholders were invited to make submissions on the matter. As part of that process the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), as the representative body of pharmacists, submitted a written submission and made an oral submission to Department officials. In addition, 104 other written submissions were received largely from community pharmacists. These submissions along with the other submissions received were analysed and considered before I made my decision on the restructuring of payments.