Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. I welcome the witnesses. This is always an opportunity to be educated in the field of medicine and terminology we do not normally hear at the committee. In his contribution Mr. O'Mahony referred to the seizure of drugs bought online, including €500,000 worth of drugs in one week. Three or four months ago I read an article in one of the UK newspapers on the same issue. A projected estimate for the volume of medicines being brought into the UK via Internet shopping was staggering. The article also described it as frightening because of the ambiguity of the contents. The witnesses will have anticipated my question. If this is what Revenue is managing to apprehend or acquire, what is the projected figure in financial terms for medicines coming into the Republic on a yearly basis? I compliment the witnesses on the leaflet posted to us, to which my colleague, Deputy Catherine Byrne, referred. It is very well written. I should not say this but most politicians use very large bins for the material they receive. However, this is one leaflet I am keeping.

We are beginning to make progress on generic medicines. All of us will be aware of the Bill to introduce generic drugs, which is very welcome. Following years of talk by politicians on the issue, we are finally getting the legislation. Given that 62% of Irish adults had a holiday abroad this year - I would prefer they stayed at home or went to Cork - one has only to speak to a person outside the local school or supermarket to realise the volume of medicines brought in this summer is absolutely phenomenal. Can a figure be put on the amount?