Home > Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 451 - Misuse of drugs [27837/14].

[Oireachtas] Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 451 - Misuse of drugs [27837/14]. (01 Jul 2014)


451. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the long delay in publishing draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations, which will amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988, is due to legal action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27837/14]

 452. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if perceived cost implications have delayed the finalisation and publication of draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations, which will amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27838/14]

 453. Deputy Billy Kelleher  asked the Minister for Health the reason he intends to notify the European Commission of the draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations when other EU members enacted similar amending regulations without notifying the EC, as it believed such regulations were exempt under the technical standards directive and-or the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, as amended by 1972 protocol; if he will stipulate the provisions of the technical standards directive and-or the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 that requires Ireland to submit the draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations to the EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27839/14]

 454. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the written submissions that his Department received in response to his Department’s consultation on draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations, amending the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988, which was announced in August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27840/14]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Alex White): I propose to take Questions Nos. 451 to 454, inclusive, together.

The Misuse of Drugs Regulations, made under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, are the primary legislative instrument regulating the import, export, manufacture, production, prescribing, supply, possession and administration of controlled drugs.

Draft amendment Regulations were prepared following extensive consultation with key stakeholders and were placed on the Department’s website inviting further comment by early September 2013. The proposed draft Regulations constitute a major amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. Over 90 submissions were received from a wide range of organisations and individuals. While my Department has no plans to publish these, they are available if requested. Work is ongoing on the drafting of these regulations. This process is taking longer than anticipated because it is a complex and technical body of work. The regulations will be finalised as soon as possible.

The purpose of the Technical Standards Directive is to eliminate or reduce the barriers to the free movement of goods which can arise from the adoption of different national technical regulations. Under the Directive any regulations providing for such restrictions are required to be notified to the European Commission. Accordingly, in view of the additional controls it is proposed to introduce in relation to certain substances, the Department is required to notify these under this Directive.

Item Type
Dail Debates
Publication Type
Irish-related
Drug Type
Substances (not alcohol/tobacco)
Intervention Type
Policy
Date
1 July 2014
EndNote
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