Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Dec 1932

Vol. 16 No. 6

Public Business. - Therapeutic Substances Bill, 1932—Report Stage.

Question proposed: "That the Bill be received for final consideration."

Sir Edward Coey Bigger

I have an amendment down as follows:—

New section. Before Section 12 to insert a new section as follows:—

12. (1) Subject to the provisions of this section any registered medical practitioner may in case of extreme urgency import into Saorstát Eireann any therapeutic substance not procurable in Saorstát Eireann without having obtained an import permit under the last preceding section of this Act.

(2) Any registered medical practitioner acting under the provisions of the preceding sub-section shall forthwith apply, in the prescribed form containing the prescribed particulars, to the Minister for a certificate exempting him from the provisions of the next following section of this Act in respect of such therapeutic substance, and the Minister, if he is satisfied that such registered medical practitioner has acted necessarily and in good faith, may grant such certificate.

(3) A certificate granted by the Minister under the provisions of the last preceding sub-section of this section in respect of the import of such therapeutic substance shall have the same effect as if such registered medical practitioner had previously obtained an import permit for the importation of such therapeutic substance under Section 11 of this Act.

The section I propose is more than covered by the Government amendment, which has a wider scope, and which in no way weakens the Bill and, with the leave of the House, I withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Cathaoirleach

Government amendment:—

Section 12, sub-section (1). To add at the end of the sub-section the following:—

... or

(d) such substance is imported by a registered medical practitioner and such practitioner at the time of importing such substance delivers to an officer of customs and excise a declaration in writing signed by him to the effect that such substance is urgently required for one of his own patients and that circumstances (to be specified in such declaration) did not permit of his obtaining in sufficient time an import permit to import such substance.

Mr. Brown

I second.

Question put and agreed to.

Question—"That the Bill, as amended, be received for final consideration"—put and agreed to.

Question—"That the Bill do now pass"—put and agreed to.