Search the record

thank the Minister for being here. I welcome the opportunity to speak during World Pharmacists Day and to recognise the invaluable contribution made by pharmacists across the country, including in my constituency of Mayo. Mayo people will use any excuse to say "Up Mayo" these days. This year … theme is "Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures" and it is a fitting reminder of the central role pharmacists play in our healthcare system. They are often the most accessible healthcare professionals in our communities and provide advice, support patients, administer vaccines and ensure the safe use of medicines

Tomorrow, we celebrate World Pharmacists Day 2026. Of course, it is World Pharmacists Week. This year's theme, chosen by the International Pharmaceutical Federation, is empowering pharmacists for healthier futures. It is an appropriate theme for Ireland. Over the past year, we have taken significant steps to empower … pharmacists to play a broader and more clinical role within our health service. Through new services, new responsibilities and new investment, pharmacy is becoming an even more important part of delivering accessible, patient-centred healthcare. Pharmacists are a phenomenal asset to, and a fundamental part of, our health

commitment and the work she does. I thank the Members of the House for their contributions. I also thank our hospital and community pharmacists for their work in delivering the significant reforms we have seen across Irish pharmacy over recent months and years. Every day, pharmacists provide safe … promoting public health, improving access to services and helping people to manage their health closer to home. Across the community and hospital settings pharmacists are making an increasingly important contribution to patient care. They are among the most trusted and accessible healthcare professionals in Ireland. Every day, they

both the Minister and her predecessor. It is important that work is happening and it is good to mark it on World Pharmacists Day. As we know, Sláintecare has a strong emphasis on enhancing public health and prevention and the delivery of an integrated healthcare system. Pharmacists have … programme, 16 have no public location to access PrEP, while of the 38 private providers of PrEP 33 are based in Dublin. Community pharmacists are part of the solution to these regional inequalities and we need to expand the breadth of healthcare staff eligible to provide PrEP services

delighted to have the opportunity to speak during statements in advance of World Pharmacists Day. It has been said many times in the Chamber that pharmacists play an extraordinary front-line role in terms of that preventative and community care piece. We know there are over … system. While there is a lot of focus on our doctors and nurses and other parts of the health service, it is the pharmacists, many of whom run seven-day operations or extended hours, who are at the front line or coalface within our health system. This

welcome the opportunity to speak today. I thank the Minister for her contribution. Pharmacists are medicines experts and are among the most accessible health professionals in the State. There are approximately 1,900 community pharmacies providing around 2 million visits every week. Their role has evolved well beyond … effective medicines use and patient-centred clinical pharmacies where patients have more complex needs. The key point is that we need to use pharmacists to their full potential and integrate pharmacies further into community care. That can improve access, strengthen prevention and medicine safety and reduce avoidable pressure

work to mark World Pharmacy Week with World Pharmacists Day tomorrow, I want to thank pharmacists and their teams across Galway East and throughout the country for the work they do every day. In towns and villages across my constituency, the pharmacy is somewhere people know they … older person who needs a little extra time to understand their medication. Those conversations are crucial. The reassurance, patience and personal attention that pharmacists provide make a real difference to people’s lives. I do not think we can ever underestimate that. In rural communities in particular

wish to thank the pharmacists for everything they do. Pharmacists play a crucial role within our health services and our primary care system. Within communities, they provide a vital service, often as part of a first call if a person is feeling unwell. They often help … failing health system where patients are subjected to huge waiting lists for primary and clinical care. The role pharmacists play and the services they offer have developed over the years, especially in more recent years as we have sought to address shortcomings within our primary care system. Universal

Later on, we saw a similar situation in regard to the blister packs. Did the Minister consult the pharmacists? The free contraception scheme is another very positive scheme that our pharmacists are crucial in the delivery of. I have raised with the Minister on a number of occasions … take far too long before it is open to all who should be able to avail of it. I am certain that our pharmacists can and would willingly support this delivery but has it happened? I am not aware of any concerns in regard to the logistics

Teachta Murnane O’Connor agus an tAire, an Teachta, Carroll MacNeill atá imithe anois. This is indeed a wonderful day. We are empowering pharmacists for healthier futures. There is a massive opportunity, as others have said, to capitalise on that. I thank the Minister of State … country for the massive contribution that has been made over the years. The Minister of State and the Minister recognise the valuable contribution pharmacists make to people's health, consistently delivering new initiatives and being able, professional, proficient, efficient and willing to rise to any challenges or opportunities

very precious as well. It is just a point that maybe we could have dialogue on this at some stage. On the pharmacists, I acknowledge there has been a real expansion of the services on offer from community pharmacists. The focus is no longer just on a dispensing … clinical model and the very foundation of our pharmacies. We are seeing a move towards a more expansive and integrated model where pharmacists’ expertise is recognised and utilised. The Minister and her predecessor should be acknowledged for their work to expand services in community pharmacies. It is really

Motion re Fuel, Energy and Carbon Tax Relief, selected by Independent Technical Group. Thursday's business shall be: - Statements on World Pharmacists Week (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Electricity Regulation (Climate Action and Connection … Distribution and Transmission Systems) Bill 2025, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and 2. the Statements on World Pharmacists Week shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall

Deputy, we have been talking about pharmacists

That concludes statements on World Pharmacists

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitments regarding pharmacists and pharmacy services. [67415/26