Opticians Regulations.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2005

Wednesday, 4 May 2005

Ceisteanna (145)

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

171 Dr. Cowley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department will permit a person to sell and distribute glasses and prescription lenses through the Internet with the prescription end of this being handled in the United Kingdom; if this is not already permitted, if she will consider allowing the establishment of such a service to enable the public to avail of extremely large savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14127/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Bord na Raharcmhastóirí, the Opticians Board, is the regulatory body for the opticians professions in Ireland. It is a body corporate established under the Opticians Act 1956 and provides for the registration and control of opticians and related matters. The prescription, dispensing and sale of spectacles in this jurisdiction are regulated under the Opticians Acts 1956 and 2003 and the rules made under the Acts by the Opticians Board. Where such activities or one or more of them take place in another jurisdiction, such as in the UK, their regulation would be a matter for the relevant authorities in that jurisdiction and as such would not be a matter within the remit of the Opticians Board.