Madam, - I would like to respond to Marc Coleman's article "Politicians' silence bolsters pharmacist lobby" (Business This Week, July 28th).
As an Irish-trained pharmacist, I am in favour, as is the PSI, of the removal of the derogation preventing pharmacists with foreign qualifications from acting as supervising pharmacist in pharmacies less than three years old. It is an anti-competitive measure that should, and will, be abolished.
However, I was surprised and shocked to discover that I was being assigned membership of the "rack-renting class of landlords of the 19th century" a short journey, of course, from my allegedly "comfortable background".
In reality, I attended a State school, obtained 600 points in my Leaving Certificate and undertook five years of training to become a pharmacist.
I do not agree, as Mr Coleman asserts, that foreign pharmacists are "better qualified" and I find it completely ludicrous to suggest that politicians fear that pharmacists may influence the electorate. Is he seriously suggesting that we dispense political advice along with prescriptions?
I am not entirely sure when exactly men in "waistcoats were mixing powders", but having being held up repeatedly in my workplace at gun-, syringe-, crowbar- and knife-point, I know that time has passed.
Pharmacists are an important frontline resource in the health service serving the community. I enjoy my profession, enjoy helping people and also seek to earn my living from it. Is that so unreasonable? - Yours, etc,
JENNIFER O'SULLIVAN, Bellevue, Islandbridge, Dublin 8.