New pharmacy legislation passed

New legislation updating pharmaceutical regulations to protect patients and public has been passed today after a 130 year gap.

The president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland Mr Ronan Quirke has welcomed the passage today by both Houses of the Oireachtas.

"The Pharmaceutical Society has sought this new legislation for a very long time. Many ministers over the past 30 years have promised the Bill and we congratulate Minister Harney for being the one to deliver.

"We also thank the Opposition spokespeople, the staff of both Houses of the Oireachtas, especially those in the Bills Office and the Members of Seanad Éireann and its Leader Mary O'Rourke for facilitating the passage of the Act in such a short time frame.

"This Act updates pharmacy legislation, most of it dating from 130 years ago. It will for the first time introduce new protections for patients and the public which are very welcome and long overdue.

"The Pharmaceutical Society will now be able to act in the public interest and looks forward to introducing a modern public protection regime for patients."

The new legislation introduces Fitness to Practise provisions for pharmacists for the first time as well as quality assurance procedures to assure the public of their pharmacist’s competence.