Vol. 526 No. 4
265 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will be setting up a complementary medicines board or forum outside the remit of the Irish Medicines Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26940/00]
I do not propose to set up a complementary medicines board or forum outside the remit of the Irish Medicines Board. It has been the established policy of successive Governments and enshrined by the Oireachtas in the Irish Medicines Board Act, 1995, that responsibility for the licensing of medicinal products, including the giving of advice in relation to the control and use of such products, rests with the Irish Medicines Board, including its expert advisory committees. The board has the necessary expertise in "traditional and alternative" medicinal products. In addition, it has available to it a panel of experts that may on occasion be consulted on individual licence applications and certain aspects arising in applications.
