The talks are without preconditions on either party, but we are satisfied that we have now entered a process of engagement with the Department of Health with another scheduled meeting already arranged for the end of July.

This is the most significant development on pay and service talks with the Department in many years and it follows the sustained campaigning by you, our members, in addition to many years of consistent advocacy by IPU staff and the IPU Committees. Evidence of the campaign is in the media and political output over recent weeks, which saw headlines in national newspapers, and coverage across all national broadcast media, in addition to airtime on regional radio stations, and copy in local newspapers. Our political campaign was intense, and the contribution from members on the ground has been immeasurable, as TDs and Senators have been consistently raising the issue of the pharmacy pay freeze in the Houses of the Oireachtas. Over a three-day period this month, 91 Parliamentary Questions were put to the Minister for Health on the need to speak with the IPU on fees paid to pharmacies, and the potential services that could be available from pharmacies. This made a huge impact, and I sincerely thank all our members who contacted their local representatives. As healthcare professionals and business owners working in local communities you have a very strong political voice, and this has borne fruit in recent weeks.

A snapshot of the media coverage is detailed on page X in ‘Pharmacy in the Media’ in ‘IPU News’, and this month’s ‘Political Report’ on page X provides some insight into the types of questions and issues being raised, and by whom, in Leinster House. We are also grateful to Fitzgerald Power and economist Jim Power who finalised their Annual Review of the Community Pharmacy Sector, which sets out the economic case for the Minister to engage with pharmacies, and having hard data to support our argument was vitally important. An article on the Annual Review is available on page X.

However, while progress has been made in recent weeks, we still have a lot of work to do, and the campaign is far from over. There is no commitment that any pay restoration will be forthcoming, so we need you to continue to work with us on our ongoing campaign. This is merely a first step in what may turn out to be a long process, but I assure you our core demand remains the same; a restoration of our dispensing fee to €6.50 linked to public sector pay.

We will continue with your assistance to highlight through our campaigning the immense pressures on our sector and will press the state to deliver investment in community pharmacy to ensure we have a sustainable future, which will meet the needs of our patients. Our committees and staff team in Butterfield House are working hard on your behalf on this campaign, and will provide regular updates via our newsletter and on these pages over the coming weeks and months.

Thank you again for your support with the campaign, which we hope you will continue with over the coming months.