Other issues raised by Deputies included the free HRT scheme, the Community Pharmacy Agreement and plans to increase the number of courses available for those wishing to study pharmacy.
In advance of the Christmas recess, the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, was asked by Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fáil) and Deputy Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fáil) the key measures taken to improve pharmacy services during 2026.
The Minister pointed to the introduction of the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) scheme, as well as the Common Conditions Service. She also recognised the importance of the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 as it sets out “a comprehensive and ongoing pathway to modernise and expand the role of community pharmacy in Ireland’s healthcare system”.
Phased dispensing changes contained within the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 and the costs of blister packing services from pharmacies was a key focus during the month of December.
Sinn Féin, led by its spokesperson on Health Deputy David Cullinane (Waterford), brought forward a Dáil motion calling on the Government to continue funding monitored dosage systems and blister packs to prevent any additional costs being charged to people who require them.
A number of Sinn Féin contributed to this debate, with each of these Deputies supporting the motion and calling on the Minister for Health and the Government to prevent additional costs being incurred by older people and people with disabilities.
Many members of other parties added their voice to the debate, speaking in favour of the motion.
The only Government TD to support the Motion was Deputy Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fáil), who shared that he has been contacted by numerous constituents concerned about this issue but welcomed the Minister’s decision to pause the changes until the later in the first quarter of 2026.
Responding to the Deputies, the Minister for Health did not oppose the motion, but took the opportunity to clarify what she described as a “very confused and inaccurate set of comments”.
She confirmed that blister packs have always been a private service provided by pharmacists and that “it was never funded by the State”.
Throughout the past number of weeks, there has been a considerable number of Deputies who have raised Parliamentary Questions on this issue.
Phased dispensing was also raised with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, during Leaders Questions. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Féin) called on the Taoiseach to “reverse permanently this cruel decision and continue to fund the blister pack service”, while Deputy Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Féin) also told the Taoiseach that many people cannot afford to pay for the blister packing service.
The Taoiseach explained that the issue was more complex than that, saying “there needs to be engagement between the IPU and the HSE on this”.
Deputy David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) also raised concerns with the Taoiseach during Leader’s Question, questioning “the rationale behind the decision on blister packs” and asked if he is “aware of the significant impact this is having on patients”.
The Taoiseach replied by saying “no formal decision was taken by Government or by the Minister in respect of blister packs” and that it was his understanding that some pharmacies charged “very minor rates such as €5 or €10”. He added that the Minister was engaging with representative bodies to reach a workable solution.
In the Dáil, the free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) scheme continued to be raised by Deputies. Following previous questions about who the free HRT scheme is available to, the Minister for Health indicated that the free HRT scheme is intended to alleviate the symptoms related to women experiencing menopause.
In response to this, Deputy Pádraig Rice (Cork South Central, Social Democrats) asked the Minister “if healthcare providers must indicate on prescriptions that they are for the management of the symptoms of menopause” for pharmacists to submit claims under the free HRT scheme.
Similarly, Deputy Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) asks if it is HSE policy that pharmacists participating in the free HRT scheme must ascertain a patient’s sex assigned at birth when they suspect this differs from the gender marker in medical records.
The Minister responded to say the legislation does not make provisions as to “what must be included in a prescription for it to be considered valid” and the Minister cannot comment or intervene on “decisions made by individual pharmacists in the exercise of their professional judgement.” She does however reaffirm that the purpose of the free HRT scheme is for the alleviation of symptoms related to all stages of menopause.
In both the Dáil and the Seanad, the issue of the availability of emergency allergy treatments was raised by members.
In the Seanad, Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) used her Commencement Matters speaking time to raise this issue and she called for greater publicly available emergency medicine kits in schools and public places.
Responding to the Senator, Minister of State Niamh Smyth, advised that the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 established an “emergency medicine administration preparedness allowance that recognises that community pharmacists are authorised to administer emergency medicines”.
In the Dáil, Deputies Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael), Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fáil), and Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fáil) each asked the Minister the measures her Department is taking to increase access to emergency allergy treatments in schools, childcare, and public places.
The Minister for Health, echoing the response from Minister Smyth in the Seanad, shared that under the Community Pharmacy Agreement an Emergency Medicine Administration Allowance would be established to provide training for pharmacists, and a €525 annual recurring allowance will be provided, which will ensure they are ready to respond in emergency situations.
Deputies Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fáil), Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fáil), and Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú) each raised the importance of providing more places in universities for high demand areas such as medicine, pharmacy and nursing.
The Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless, shared that his Department launched two new pharmacy programmes in 2025, in the University of Galway and in Atlantic Technological University, with a third anticipated in 2026 in South East Technological University. With additional places in pharmacy being provided in the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, there will be an additional 161 places in pharmacy, almost doubling additional training capacity.
Speaking in Dáil Éireann, Deputy Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) asked the Minister for Health to share any engagement between her Department and the IPU in encouraging the use of European-made pharmaceuticals, where possible.
The Minister for Health advised that she and her Department have no role in the decision-making process on prescribing or dispensing medicine. She did advise that there are ongoing negotiations between the EU member states on the Critical Medicines Act, which would encourage medicine manufacturing activity in the EU.
Deputy Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael), the Fine Gael Spokesperson on Health, asked the Minister for Health about any consultation she or her Department have put in place to engage with patient advocacy groups, GPs, pharmacies and other stakeholders on the Health Products Regulatory Authority review on the method of sale and supply of codeine containing medicinal products.
He further asked the Minister what mechanisms will be put in place “to assist those who are reliant on codeine containing medicinal products and who have been able to purchase them without prescription”, if it is recommended that these products should be prescription only.
The Minister advised that the HPRA is expected to conclude this review in early 2026, and following its completion, the Department of Health will engage with stakeholders to access these recommendations and “to fully consider any policy changes that may be required”.
The shingles vaccine was raised in the Seanad by Senator Joe Conway (Waterford, Independent) who highlighted that one in three people over the age of 65 are likely to get shingles if they are unvaccinated. Calling for the vaccine to be freely available to those over-65, he pointed to the number of similar countries to Ireland which already offer the vaccine freely, including Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Minister of State Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, who responded to the Senator, advised that the Minister for Health requested HIQA to conduct a health technology assessment (HTA) on the shingles vaccine. HIQA advised the Minster that given the vaccine price at the time and the routine immunisation schedule, it would not be cost-effective and would have substantial budget impact.
Following the Pharmacy Excellence Awards 2025, Senator Fiona O’Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fáil) highlighted the success of Shane Ryan’s pharmacy in Rathangan, County Kildare which was the national winner of the best community pharmacy award. During her Order of Business comments in the Seanad, she emphasised the importance of community pharmacies in communities, villages, towns and cities.
Brian Harrison
Managing Director, MKC Communications
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