Vol. 519 No. 5
181 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on an article (details supplied) regarding the issue of St. John's Wort which was presented to members of the Oireachtas; if he will indicate the view of the Irish Medicines Board in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14105/00]
My views on the article to which the Deputy refers are similar to those of the Irish Medicines Board which is the expert authority in these matters in this country.
The article in question was included in the information pack sent by the Irish Medicines Board to all members of the Oireachtas and all Irish MEPs as a consequence of the appearance of the officers of the board at the meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committees on Health and Children and Enterprise and Small Business which discussed St. John's Wort and related matters. The article circulated was simply another view in relation to the general issues surrounding the safety of herbal medicines published in a reputable non technical journal which also needed to be considered in the context of the relevant issues involved. The inclusion of the article, which did not mention St. John's Wort, in the information pack did not constitute an endorsement by the Irish Medicines Board of the views expressed.
