asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the present position in which proprietary medicines may be purchased in supermarkets and elsewhere without any trained supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Proprietary Medicines.
71.
Under the Poisons Act, 1961, the Minister for Health has power to regulate the sale and distribution of medicines containing scheduled poisons, the sale of which except under expert supervision would constitute a potential risk to health. The Act provided for the establishment of Comhairle na Nimheanna to advise the Minister on the making of regulations for this purpose. Draft regulations based on the Comhairle's recommendations have recently been sent to them for their consideration.
I am satisfied that these regulations will contain such safeguards as are necessary concerning the sale of proprietary medicines.
May I inquire from the Minister if in his dealing with this matter he will make sure that such things as aspirins, which we all obtain from many of those premises, will not be included?
I want to make it clear that it is only substances which would be liable to be harmful which will be included.
After all, we can buy aspirins in the restaurant of Leinster House.