Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 5

Written Answers. - Irish Medicines Board.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

144 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has had discussions with the Irish Medicines Board regarding their increasing financial difficulties; and the plans, if any, he has to increase the funding so that the medicines board can take on extra activity and responsibility. [16329/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Officers of my Department have ongoing discussions with the Irish Medicines Board in relation to their financial situation.

It has been the policy, since the board was established in 1995, that the board should be self-financing in relation to the functions devolved to it under the Irish Medicines Board Act, 1995. Section 13 of the Act provides for the making of regulations in respect of the payment of fees to the Irish Medicines Board in relation to the grant or renewal of licences by the board under section 32 of the Act. Section 14 of the Act provides for the making of charges by the board in respect of services provided by it, subject to my approval. All of these fees and charges may be reviewed from time to time to take account of any shortcomings in income.

The Irish Medicines Board is not in financial difficulties. It makes the point in the recently published strategic plan that its fees are primarily geared towards new applications rather than towards maintenance of existing authorisations. However, it has also informed me that in stating this it was intended to act as an indicator to those who pay its fees i.e. industry, of how the board might wish to restructure its fees at some future unspecified date.

The Irish Medicines Board has received funding this year from my Department for the first time to support new activities that it has been asked to take on. These include activities relating to enforcement, medical devices and controlled drugs under the misuse of drugs Act. Some of these functions will require amendment to the relevant primary legislation.