I want to ask the Tánaiste about the Government's stance on scrapping the cost of blister packs for the consumer. A lady in my constituency said her 96-year old mother relied on her blister pack, as her eyesight is failing and she could not tell which tablet was which. An employee of a local pharmacy said that many of the patients who had prepacked blister packs knew exactly what meds to take. They felt safer knowing all they had to do was look at the packs. Safety is extremely important when taking medication. There will be overdoses and underdoses if people cannot afford to pay for their blister packs. We know how many elderly people and people with disabilities are struggling with the ever-increasing cost of living. Last year I was one of the first TDs to highlight the cost of the blister packs and how it was going to have an effect on many of my constituents who rely on this service. These are people who may have a disability, Alzheimer's, dementia, and so on. With pressure from Sinn Féin and others, we have seen a three-month pause, but now we need to see a real commitment from the Government. Will the Government completely reverse the health Minister's decision and ensure vulnerable people can continue getting their blister packs free of charge?

I thank Deputy Guirke for raising this issue. I want to clarify that this was not a decision taken by the Minister for Health but it was, indeed, a change in pricing practice by a number of pharmacies across the country.

The position in this regard is as it always has been. I ask that pharmacists engage with their loyal customers on the issue and reflect on the comments of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I will ask her to provide the Deputy with the most up-to-date information on her Department's engagement with pharmacists on this matter.