Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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268. To ask the Minister for Health the reason Ireland does not have a chief pharmaceutical officer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47514/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has professionally qualified pharmacists among its staff and does not have plans to appoint a chief pharmaceutical officer at the present time. The matter will be kept under review in the context of wider workforce planning considerations.

I am aware that there is interest currently in discussing the potential post of Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and I have asked my officials in the Medicines, Controlled Drugs and Pharmacy Legislation Unit to engage directly with the Irish Pharmacy Union in the first instance, to offer the IPU an opportunity to outline their position and to listen to their perspective and insights on this matter.