Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in the case of professional medical and pharmaceutical bodies which oversee regulations and standards for their members, she conducts audits of the cost of the regulatory activities and the justification of fees charged; if there is an obligation to provide a regular audit of the costs involved and business plans in order that those paying subscriptions could see that the charges being made are justified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42889/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is a self financing body. The setting of fees for the pharmacy profession is governed by the Pharmacy Act 2007. It requires the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) to make an application for ministerial consent to any fees that it proposes to charge. This process allows for the consideration, and examination, of the Society's fee proposals by my Department. The PSI, when setting a fee for retail pharmacy businesses for the first time in 2008, engaged consultants to develop an evidence-based methodology for the determination of these fees. The process included a comparative analysis of comparable international pharmacy regulators.

The PSI recently applied for my consent, which I granted, to decrease its fees for the continued registration of pharmacists, pharmaceutical assistants and retail pharmacy businesses for 2010. I have also recently refused an application by An Bord Altranais for my consent to an increase in registration fees for 2010.

The PSI is obliged by the Pharmacy Act 2007 to submit its audited annual accounts and Annual Report to the Minister for laying before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The PSI also prepares an annual service plan and corporate strategy, which it submits to the Minister.

With respect to the medical profession, the Medical Council is the statutory body charged with responsibility for the registration and regulation of medical practitioners in the State. Under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 modern governance arrangements apply to the Council including the production of a Statement of Strategy, Business Plan and Annual Report. The Act also provides for the Council's annual accounts to be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The 2007 Act requires the Minister to ensure that the Council's Statement of Strategy, Business Plan and Annual Report are laid before each House of the Oireachtas. It requires the Council to lay its audited accounts before each House of the Oireachtas.