Godfrey Timmins
Question:61 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the increased penalties announced last September for the possession and/or use of angel dust have not yet been enacted into law.
Written Answers. - Use of Angel Dust.
The various Acts under which regulations on the availability and use of veterinary medicines are based are all restricted to summary jurisdiction. In order to provide for the offences proposed it is necessary to provide for indictable offences. The Animals Remedies Act, 1956, will be amended to make this provision.
When the Act is being amended it is considered appropriate to use the opportunity to provide for additional measures. These will include control of the use of all animal remedies, the non-utilization of produce derived from treated animals for human consumption, extensive powers of enforcement for authorised officers, members of the Garda Síochána and officers of Customs and Excise as well as powers of arrest for members of the Garda Síochána.
These provisions will enable all future medicines legislation to be introduced under the same Act. A draft Bill is under preparation in the office of the Attorney General and I hope to be in a position to introduce it to this House in the near future.