Vol. 486 No. 1
539 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposed statutory instruments being prepared in or under the auspices of his Department; the proposed effect of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1098/98]
Statutory instruments are being prepared in my Department at present for the following purposes: to wind up the Tallaght Hospital Board-the purposes of this S.I. is to allow the board of the Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin Incorporating the National Childrens Hospital to take control of all issues relating to the transfer of services to the Tallaght Hospital; to amend S.I. No. 223 of 1961, to provide, in conjunction with legislation amending the Hospitals Federation and Amalgamation Act, 1961 (Establishment Day) Order, 1961, for the board of the Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin Incorporating the National Children's Hospital, taking over the appropriate functions of the Central Council of the Federated Dublin Voluntary Hospitals; to permit the commercial growing of hemp from seed varieties specified by the Commission of the European Communities, which have a low tetrahydrocannibabinol (THC) content-this will permit farmers to avail of grants available for the growing of hemp, to provide that the prescription and supply of methadone will be restricted to official prescription forms specifically designed for the purpose — this will provide tighter control on the prescribing of methadone in the treatment of drug abuse.
