Rhys Iley, director for Boots Ireland, told C+D: “Our policy has been crystal clear. We will remain dispensing under government schemes…We believe patients and patient care must come first in all this.”

His comments came as hundreds of Irish pharmacies remained closed in protest at a proposed 34 per cent cut in pay.

Boots has put on extra dispensing services to minimise disruption to patients, Mr IIey said.

Extra dispensing staff had been recruited to stores in areas hardest hit by the boycott, he revealed.

The Boots director added: “We are taking on any patients that come in to us with a valid prescription. Across all our stores we’ve seen an increased level of demand.”

Boots has 48 pharmacies in the Republic of Ireland.