Dr. Peter Kelly:

I think the initial legislation was written between 2008 and 2010. I am aware that a group of nurses from the south east made representations at that time. My understanding, and I have heard this from two nurses in the south east, is that a letter was written by Professor Sir John Strang from the National Addiction Centre in the UK supporting the introduction of legislation specifically for methadone. To this day, I have no idea why that aspect was not included in the legislation. Various representations have been made to the Department of Health since then. I outlined a recommendation made by two independent medical professors to introduce it into the Irish system and it has not been done. It is also in the current national drugs strategy as something to be explored. In my view, that has not happened appropriately or with a balanced view of the evidence.