Ms Ann Horan:

I will answer the question anyway. The whole area of research is very important to us at the HPRA and we have been involved in setting up an organisation called Regulatory Science Ireland. That body brings together the various universities, the private sector and the public sector to promote research in regulatory science and to make sure that we stay ahead and that we work well with the industry. I think that is the area that Senator Burke was asking about.

Senator van Turnhout mentioned the miracle mineral solution. It is not an authorised product in this country. As with any of these things, we do our best to try to promote discussion of the issues around it and to do whatever we can, but it is not authorised.

Deputy Byrne mentioned the very sad issue in France this week regarding the clinical trial. The HPRA is involved in regulating clinical trials. There is new legislation that we are currently in discussion with the Government about. That will be around bringing together the legislation from Europe. All I can say about the clinical trial in France is that it was at a very early stage and that is the highest-risk stage, when medicine that has been tested on animals is starting to be tested on humans. There are definitely risks there. We do not have a huge amount of those types of trials in Ireland, although we could have. Basically, we do not know what happened in France but we are monitoring the situation. It is obviously very serious and is something we are looking into.

Deputy Mitchell O'Connor asked about an appearance by John Lynch, the director of compliance at the HPRA. I do not know about that particular issue. Slimming pills, like the miracle mineral solution, are not authorised. We do our best to highlight the dangers around them. Part of our role and part of our strategic plan is providing good, quality information to health care professionals but also to members of the public, to warn of the dangers of these kinds of products.

I think I have gone through all of the questions, unless there is something I have missed.