I raise the issue of community pharmacy pay. Community pharmacies have had a pay freeze for the past 15 years. One in ten community pharmacies, mainly in rural areas, is loss-making. This figure will increase unless investment is made. Administrative burdens associated with the community drugs scheme, the ongoing issue of medicine supply challenges and the underutilisation by the Government of our pharmacies' unique skillset has led to burnout in the profession. Community pharmacies are now the only healthcare sector that has received no restoration of pay since the financial crisis. This needs to change. There is a deadline of 30 June for these talks. I would like the pay of community pharmacies to be realigned.

I thank Deputy Cahill. At the outset, he has given me an opportunity to thank pharmacists for all of the work they do every single day, in particular through Covid. If people did not realise how important our pharmacists and their staff are, they certainly do now. I met the community pharmacy sector in my constituency recently to discuss this issue. I have corresponded with the Department of Health about this and I will raise the matter directly with the Minister for Health on foot of the Deputy's intervention today regarding the community pharmacy sector.