Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026: Second and Subsequent Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-16
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Teresa Costello (FF), Agricultural Panel

I welcome the Minister. She has made herself very available to the Seanad during this term. I understand how busy she is but we really do appreciate the time she has given and how she has listened to us. I mean that very sincerely. I welcome this Bill. It is practical and sensible legislation. It reflects how healthcare is evolving in Ireland. It is about making access to care easier and reducing unnecessary delays. The Minister spoke about pharmacists and their qualifications, which just brought me back to my childhood. We had a pharmacist whose name was Mattie. He worked out of Glenview. My grandparents and parents had such faith in him. He was a miracle worker in our community. People still talk about him to this day. He is long since retired. The existing pharmacists in our community are approachable and knowledgeable and deserve that respect to be given the extra trust to carry out extra work. They are one of the greatest strengths of our primary care system. The Bill builds on that trusted relationship. It is allowing them, under strict clinical protocols, to provide the repeat prescriptions for certain forms of short-acting contraception. It is not replacing the GPs but just complementing them and allowing them to focus on more complex issues and patients who have more complex needs.
The programme for Government committed to continuing the expansion of access to free contraception and this legislation delivers on that commitment in a practical and patient-centered way. The Bill benefits women outside the free contraception scheme and women aged over 35 are able to avail of the service privately where clinically approved, at a cost that is expected to be lower than the cost of attending a GP. It is a welcome step in improving accessibility and affordability. Just as importantly, the legislation contains important safeguards. As the Minister explained, patients must first receive the assessment and prescription from a GP. Pharmacists will operate under nationally approved clinical protocols with mandatory training and clear professional standards. Women with complex medical conditions or higher clinical risks will remain under the care of their GP, and that is really important. Likewise, long-acting reversible contraception such as implants and intrauterine devices will continue to be provided through appropriately trained medical professionals. These safeguards ensure that patient safety remains at the heart of this new service. The legislation represents good use of public resources. Every repeat prescription that can be safely managed in a pharmacy is one less routine appointment occupying valuable GP time. It creates additional capacity within general practice for patients with chronic illnesses, mental health concerns, children's healthcare and more complex conditions.
It creates the additional capacity within general capacity, including patients with chronic illnesses, mental health concerns, children's healthcare and more complex conditions. It is also a cost-effective reform. Under the community pharmacy agreement, the agreed reimbursement for a pharmacy consultation is significantly lower than the current allocation for a GP consultation, so it delivers value for taxpayers while improving patient convenience. I acknowledge the constructive engagement between the Department of Health, the HSE, the IPU and all those involved in developing this service. Their collaboration demonstrates how healthcare reform can be delivered through partnership and careful planning. As it is rolled out, it is important that the Government continues to monitor its implementation and ensure pharmacists receive the necessary training and support and maintain close collaboration with GPs to ensure a seamless continuity of care for patients.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:17+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-16