2811. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure fentanyl use does not become widespread in Ireland as it has become in other countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42191/25]
2812. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the measures she is taking to ensure fentanyl use does not become widespread in Ireland as it has become in other countries; the way in which she will ensure that fentanyl is kept out of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42192/25]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Minister of State at the Department of Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2811 and 2812 together.

The drug market is constantly evolving, and new and dangerous substances are constantly emerging.

There is no evidence that Ireland has been impacted by fentanyl and for some time the opioid market has remained stable. Ireland has, however, seen the emergence of synthetic opioids called nitazenes, which first presented on the Irish drug market in November 2023. Nitazenes initially impacted the heroin markets in Dublin and Cork, before leading to a national outbreak associated with tablets sold as benzodiazepines.

The HSE actively monitors drug markets for signs of concern as part of their early warning and emerging trend projects to inform the HSE Public Health Alert System. There has been an increase in media reports and other warnings about new and novel, potent, adulterated, or contaminated drugs over the last decade. However, these reports are rarely confirmed by toxicology tests.

The HSE and the National Response and Alert Group (NRAG), a network of relevant stakeholders, collaborate to monitor and respond to drug threats in a timely manner. The NRAG is coordinated by the National Clinical Lead for Addiction Services and the National Social Inclusion Office. It includes membership from laboratories (The State Lab, Forensic Science Ireland and the HSE Emerging Drug Trends Laboratory, Trinity College Dublin), An Garda Síochána, the HPRA, the National Ambulance Service, Dublin Fire Brigade, the National Poisons Information Centre, Irish Prison Service and HSE Communications Division. Through this network, these agencies remain in regular contact and review new drugs which appear on the Irish drug market and consider concerns which have been raised by frontline services.

I believe that Ireland must continue to develop its response to emerging drug trends. Our ambition for preventing harmful drug use, and for improving access to evidence-based treatment services, will be set out in the successor national drugs strategy currently under development.