asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of firms manufacturing the type of medicinal tablets on which duties were recently imposed.
26.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medicinal Tablets and Preparations.
25.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether in the interests of the public he will make available lists of those home-manufactured drugs which are in substitution for proprietary imported medicaments, and which should be sold at a rate identical to or less than that paid for the imported article.
I propose with the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.
Six firms have notified my Department that they manufacture medicinal tablets to which the imports duty applies.
Consultations are at present taking place with the Irish pharmaceutical industry and importing interests, with a view to the compilation of a list of tablets at present being produced by the industry and available in sufficient quantity. It will be appreciated that it would not be practicable to relate the items on the proposed list to proprietary imported tablets.
Will the Minister say if representations were made to his Department by or on behalf of these six firms before he had imposed these tariffs?
The tariffs were imposed as a result of an application by one firm.
One firm?
Would the Minister make available to the members of the medical profession or members of the National Health Council a list of drugs?
As compiled?
As compiled.
Yes, certainly.