The programme for Government commits to developing and enhancing the primary care system. My understanding is that the HSE has proposed cuts to fees for pharmacists, who play a very important role in the supply of primary care. I have been reliably informed by one pharmacist from a rural pharmacy in my parish of Ballyhale, County Kilkenny, who approached me lately that he will have to close his pharmacy because he will lose between €30,000 to €35,000 as a result of this proposal from the HSE. It is also my understanding that the renegotiation of future payments to pharmacies will take place next year. I am asking the Minister for Health to hold off on these cuts, which are to come into force on 1 January 2020, and negotiate next year. Otherwise, we will close pharmacies in the same way as we closed other services in rural Ireland. I ask the Minister to look again at this and to ask the HSE to hold off on these cuts.

I think it is slightly different from the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, measures, as it is a fee-setting process. My understanding is that fees paid to pharmacies approach €500 million per year so it is a very substantial amount of money. The HSE is seeking savings in that context. The number of pharmacies in Ireland has increased in recent years, which is a good thing. These are contractual talks-----

That is why I am asking the Taoiseach-----