Community pharmacist David Jordan responds to the news of the final dismantling of FEMPI legislation, as reported this week. In the Irish Times letters page he makes the point that community pharmacists "are still subject to the same reduced fees that were imposed in 2008 as part of the Fempi cuts."

Budget fever has started early. The breaking news this morning is that Minister for Finance Jack Chambers has signalled the budget will take place on October 1st this year, a week earlier than planned. The same paper's editorial advises caution to the new minister, acknowledging a difficult budget, given the political pressures: "...but the challenge is to create a sustainable multi-year plan to address the key issues, and not to pretend that some kind of pre-election giveaway to voters is part of the answer."

Chambers' plans for the budget, and the political pressure, will be boosted by news that corporation tax receipts have helped to boost the State’s overall tax take during the first half of this year, increasing by 15.4% when compared to the first six months of 2023. The Indo reports that the DPENDR minister is holding talks with the health minister about "reining in" overspending on health, as the department is already €1bn ahead of where it should be after the first half of the year.

Elsewhere, a judge has said the failure by Tusla to notify the courts it had not allocated designated social workers to 235 children in care was a “shocking, appalling and damning” indictment of the agency. 

Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin leader has said Dublin city centre is “scourged with antisocial behaviour, drug dealing, drug consumption and by gangs who create a daily atmosphere of fear and intimidation.” 

Zen

Your Zen moment this morning marks the release of writer/director Andrew McCarthy's documentary (tomorrow on Disney+) about a group of young 1980s Hollywood actors who, for a moment, held the world's gaze. Even for an Irish teenage audience back then, the clutch of films with which the 'Brat Pack' were associated seemed impossibly glamorous...but weirdly relatable. Turns out it was weird for them too, which is why he made the documentary.

Have a lovely day.

Niall