The union representing 1,600 community pharmacists across the State is to seek a meeting with Justice Minister Michael McDowell to discuss the increasing number of attacks on pharmacies by thugs looking for drugs and cash.
The issue was raised at the Irish Pharmaceutical Union's (IPU) annual general meeting in Athlone yesterday.
The attacks have been predominantly in Dublin and in many cases pharmacy staff have been threatened with syringes, guns, and crowbars. In one case a security guard was stabbed. More than 90 attacks were reported to the IPU last year.
Paddy Hickey, a pharmacist who operates 26 pharmacies across the State, said he wanted the IPU to meet Mr McDowell to impress on him the urgency of addressing the problem. "In our first eight years in business we had just one hold-up. In the last two years we have had nine."
Meanwhile, IPU members also called for a public awareness campaign on the dangers of buying medicines over the internet.
Dan Ahern, a pharmacist from Farranfore, Co Kerry, said it was only a matter of time before there was "a serious tragedy" arising from somebody buying medicines in this manner.
