Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
773. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the quantity and value of illegal steroids and illegal performance enhancing drugs that have been seized in each of the years from 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32661/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra774. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons convicted for importing or selling illegal steroids and performance enhancing drugs in each of the years from 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32665/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 773 and 774 together.
Information relating to the quantity and value of drugs seized by An Garda Síochána is set out in their Annual Reports, which are available on the Garda website (www.garda.ie). The information provided in the Annual Reports is prepared on the basis of records maintained by Forensic Science Ireland, based on the quantity of drugs analysed annually at its laboratory. Relevant information for 2019 is not yet available.
As indicated in previous replies on the matter, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the Competent Authority for the implementation of EU and national legislation relating to medicines in Ireland. The role of the Authority, which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health, includes monitoring and inspecting products on the market to ensure their safety, efficacy and legality.
The Department of Health has advised that the HPRA do not class detained products by value other than where a prosecution has taken place, and in the years specified they detained the following quantities of anabolic steroid containing medicinal products:
|
Year |
Total Anabolic Steroid Detentions |
|
2019 *Jan to May |
16,589 |
|
2018 |
98,054 |
|
2017 |
449,411 |
|
2016 |
109,006 |
|
2015 |
38,049 |
|
2014 |
20,752 |
|
2013 |
24,854 |
|
2012 |
12,872 |
|
2011 |
14,572 |
The Department of Health has further advised that a number of prosecutions have taken place, in particular since the beginning of 2018, following extensive investigations by the HPRA, in conjunction with the Revenue Customs Service, An Garda Síochána and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland
The Courts Service has advised that courts statistics are not compiled in such a way as to provide the information sought regarding the number of persons convicted for importing or selling illegal steroids and illegal performance enhancing drugs.
