Written answers

Tuesday, 18 September 2018

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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399. To ask the Minister for Health if changes which have recently been made by which pharmacy assistants can no longer cover for the senior pharmacist for a short period will be reviewed (details supplied); the rationale for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37083/18]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Pharmacy Act 2007 established the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) and the functions of the Society are set out in the Act. The functions of the PSI are carried out on its behalf by the Council of the Society.

Section 30 of the Act provides for an exception to the general provision in the Act which requires the sale and supply of medicines at a pharmacy to be conducted under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist, and specifies that no offence is committed where a registered pharmaceutical assistant “acts on behalf of a registered pharmacist during the temporary absence of the registered pharmacist”.

Section 30 also permits the Council to make rules as to:

1. What may or may not be done by a registered pharmaceutical assistant when acting on behalf of a registered pharmacist; and

2. What constitutes the temporary absence of a registered pharmacist.

On June 21, the Council of the Society approved for issuance for public consultation the proposed draft Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2018. This public consultation commenced on 17 July and ran until 14 August and afforded any interested party the opportunity to make representations on the matter directly to the PSI.

Following completion of the public consultation phase, I understand that the Council of the PSI will consider the proposed draft Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2018 at its next meeting scheduled on the 20th September 2018. The results of the public consultation undertaken in this regard will be available to the Council. In circumstances where the Council approve these draft rules (with/without amendment) these will then be forwarded to me for my consideration and consent in line with requirements of Section 30 of the Act.

My role in relation to this process is limited to the consideration of any such Rules once submitted for my approval. No rules have as yet been submitted to me by the PSI.

I must consider any Rules presented to me from a fair and impartial perspective, without prejudice or prejudgement. I await the receipt of the Rules and possible commencement date for my consideration from the PSI and until that time, I am unfortunately not in a position to comment any further on the matter raised.

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