Vol. 500 No. 5
150 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of occasions rohypnol has been used in attacks upon women in the past two years; the recommendations, if any, there are that this drug be outlawed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4484/99]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that, up to and including 1 December 1998, Garda returns indicate that there were no reported incidents of such attacks upon women.
As the Deputy is aware, the classification of controlled substances, under the Misuse of Drugs Act, is a matter for the Minister for Health and Children, and my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, has informed me that Flunitrazepam, which is the active ingredient in Rohypnol and its preparations, was reclassified in this country in 1993 in response to various reports of misuse. As a result, unauthorised possession is an offence and it has been made more difficult for drug misusers to gain access to it.
The Minister for Health and Children has also informed me that doctors prescribing Rohypnol must comply with the special prescription writing requirements, as set out in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 1988, and furthermore that persons such as doctors and pharmacists having the drug in their lawful possession must keep it in safe custody in accordance with the requirements of the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations, 1982.
The main group who misuse Rohypnol are injecting opiate misusers and I am informed that experts in the Eastern Health Board, working with doctors dealing with this group, advise that doctors should not prescribe the drugs to opiate misusers because of the potential for its misuse. I have also been given to understand that the manufacturers of Rohypnol have taken certain steps to ensure that it is detectable where it is covertly administered to an individual's drink. The Minister for Health and Children has informed me that his Department will be monitoring the prescribing of controlled drugs to try and ensure that they are not subject to abuse.
