John Gormley
Question:146 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the recent action of the Irish Medicines Board in including in an information pack for public representatives, an unscientific and prejudiced article which, in their words, was designed to give the broader context of its decision in relation to the prescription confinement of St. John's Wort; if he would not agree with the unsuitability of the IMB for the regulation of health products and natural medicines after such action; if the recent article sent to Members by the IMB which dismisses herbal and homeopathic medicines as voodoo medicine, now demonstrates an inconsistency in their advertising for a person with a scientific background to investigate and be responsible for the development of a national policy of herbal medicines which might be wasted work given that they have circulated an article which draws a comparison between traditional medicine and bogus science; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17130/00]