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within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on a proposal to allow registered pharmacists to dispense prescription-free oral contraceptives.”. This is an amendment looking for a report on the provision of prescription-free oral contraceptives. It calls … Minister, within six months of the passing of the Act, to lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the proposal to allow registered pharmacists to dispense prescription-free oral contraception. While the Bill as printed allows pharmacists to represcribe certain contraceptives, we believe that oral contraceptives should

referred to in section 67E of the Health Act 1970, the primary framework for the free contraception scheme. The Bill proposes to include pharmacists as prescribers of contraception in clearly defined clinical circumstances, in addition to their existing role in dispensing contraceptive medicines and devices. The plans … Irish Medicines Board Act 1995 and the Pharmacy Act 2007 and will provide for related matters. The clinical basis for pharmacist prescribing is provided by the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 and regulations made under it. Clinical provisions for this service, like those that support the common conditions

pharmacy and women's healthcare services. Sinn Féin will support the Bill. It is a sensible measure that recognises the expertise of community pharmacists and reduces unnecessary barriers for women who need repeat prescriptions for contraception. Community pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals in the country … They are embedded in each of our communities. They are trusted and are often more accessible than a GP. Allowing appropriately trained pharmacists to prescribe repeat contraception following the initial GP consultation will make life easier for women. It will reduce unnecessary GP appointments and ease pressure

person and in the privacy of a consulting room. That is obviously initially with the GP but the follow-up is with the pharmacist. The more structured approach that we are trying to give is about making sure that those protections are in place, that there … clinical judgment of the GP in the first instance, followed up by the pharmacist, and also that it is not a simple over-the-counter service and there is a consultation or appointment for it. I do not think this is the case, but the Deputy can imagine

important that we allow pharmacists to operate at the top of their licence and give them as much power as possible, and alleviate pressures on GPs. As I said, this is recommended by the World Health Organization and endorsed by the previous health committee and the IPU. That … background to this amendment. Many pharmacists have private spaces where they do consultations about emergency contraception. Those spaces exist. It is one that we can maybe think about and have dialogue and engagement about in future. We can think about how we make the most of pharmacists

welcome this legislation that progresses the free contraception available for those aged 17 to 35 and will allow pharmacists to prescribe contraceptive medicines and products. What annoys me is to see that the Government has said the pharmacies will set their fees locally. This is not good enough … something put in place to ensure that the contraceptive is actually free when somebody goes to the counter to purchase it. Pharmacists are entirely capable of providing enhanced care beyond that which they currently do. It is a positive step. Of course, when we ask more

time but access to it has been an issue. In that regard, it is most welcome that prescription rights have been extended to pharmacists by this legislation. The other critical thing is that for all those women not eligible for the free contraception scheme - and I will talk … think we are all in agreement that when there is no medical need to attend a GP, it makes eminent sense to allow pharmacists operate to the top of their licence and to devolve greater care to them in the community. We welcome that. There are cost barriers

better to start something and develop it rather than wait for something else. We are trying to start so much with pharmacists. It is important to remind everyone about the national condom distribution scheme too, which we are expanding to pharmacies on a phased basis. Obviously condoms … prescription items and do not have to be covered by this legislation. Pharmacists do not have to prescribe them as such. Free condoms are being made available in pharmacy consulting rooms. Access is being phased into pharmacies in different regions. By the time we launch that scheme, participating

still exist and exclusion from the scheme is still an issue for some women. The Social Democrats welcome this Bill, which provides for pharmacists to re-prescribe certain contraceptives. However, we stand firm in the belief that oral contraceptives should be available prescription free. They are some

have highlighted here many times the difficulties in County Laois. This scheme means contraception methods appropriate for safe administration by pharmacists, who are highly qualified to do so, will be administered in pharmacies and it is good day when we are doing it. Pharmacies open late

Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE senior pharmacist posts filled at Portiuncula University Hospital as of 10 July 2026, in tabular form. [55234/26

Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if she will consider allowing pharmacists to administer HRT to women who have had their primary consultation and initial prescription with their GP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55644/26

July 2026, if a patient who was receiving blister packs free-of-charge prior to the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 changes pharmacists, if this patient is still entitled to receive this service free-of-charge (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54384/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether she will bring forward legislative proposals to permit therapeutic substitution by pharmacists during medicine shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53754/26