andMr. Governey asked the Minister for Health (a) the date of the setting up of Comhairle na Nimheanna (b) the date on which the council made recommendations to him and (c) whether any of the recommendations were implemented by his Department and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Comhairle na Nimheanna.
14.
The answers to (a) and (b) are 15th March, 1962 and 26th June, 1964, respectively.
With regard to (c) the recommendations in question were intended to form the basis of comprehensive regulations in relation to the manufacture, storage, transport, sale and distribution of poisons, to be made under section 14 of the Poisons Act, 1961. However, certain technical amendments of that Act were found to be necessary to enable the recommendations of the comhairle to be incorporated in the regulations. Provision has been made for such amendments in the Misuse of Drugs Bill, 1972.
In the meantime draft regulations have been prepared and consultations have taken place with a large number of trade and other interested bodies on the terms of the draft regulations.
The observations received from these bodies have been forwarded to Comhairle na Nimheanna and the comhairle is at present considering the draft regulations in the light of these observations.
Pending the making of regulations under the Poisons Act, 1961, a wide range of preparations have been brought under control under the Medical Preparations (Control of Sale) Regulations, 1966, made under the Health Acts.
These controls provide that the preparations in question may not be sold to the public by persons other than pharmaceutical chemists and other qualified persons.