John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

While my officials consulted with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union during the comprehensive consultation process that was undertaken earlier in the year on the development of a new national drugs strategy, the issue of the production of crystal meths was not raised in that context. Nor have I engaged with the Ministers for Health and Children or Justice Equality and Law Reform to explore the possibility of introducing legal restrictions on the sale of its principal ingredients, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, and I currently have no plans in that regard. As the Deputy may be aware, these substances are used legally in the production of a range of products, including cold remedies and dietary supplements.

The danger of drug precursors — legal substances which can be used in combination to manufacture illicit drugs — is monitored under UN international controls. Ireland is a party to the 1988 United Nations convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances which lays down requirements with respect to the monitoring of the licit use of precursors. This allows the International Narcotics Control Board, INCB, in tandem with the countries involved, to monitor the illicit use of these substances. With respect to the illicit manufacture and abuse of methamphetamine in Europe, the 2007 INCB report indicates that this is only a problem in a limited number of countries in western and central Europe, mainly in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and parts of Germany.

Meanwhile, the draft EU drugs action plan 2009-12, which is nearing finalisation, includes a number of actions focusing on the diversion and trafficking in, or via Europe, of drug precursors used in the manufacture of illicit drugs. These proposals are being supported by Ireland, whose contribution to the process is being co-ordinated by my Department.

The new drugs strategy will include measures to deal with issues arising from the use of any illicit drug, including crystal meths. The issue of the control of drug precursors has been discussed in that regard and it is likely to feature under an action under the new strategy. Overall, the emphasis in the strategy will be on ensuring that there is an ongoing comprehensive response to drug-related problems, rather than on drug-specific measures per se.

See this speech in context