Results 1,481-1,500 of 2,629 for speaker:Tim O'Malley

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: They will administer drugs, as happens in other EU countries. In the heel of the hunt it is best for the patient as the drugs are administered quicker than if one had to wait for doctors to administer them.

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: Nurses would not be able to prescribe drugs unless registered with An Bord Altranais. Professional liability will lie with the nurse if he or she does something incorrect. The counterbalance is the pharmacist, who has responsibility for the prescription being correctly written. Liability resides with the pharmacist if a prescription that is incorrectly written is dispensed. It is envisaged...

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: Senator Ryan's point is valid. In the United Kingdom, many general practitioners in the national health service write a considerable number of prescriptions, thereby freeing doctors to do more necessary work. This system has worked despite fears that major problems would arise. I understand the problems to which Senator Ryan alludes but legitimate fears about delegation of responsibility and...

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: The wording in the Bill is standard when dealing with offences relating to body corporates. The wording would also cover the chief executive officer, but to limit responsibility to the CEO alone is considered too narrow an approach. For example, managers, who may not be CEOs, may be responsible for a pharmacy and therefore, must also remain liable if convicted of an offence in connection with...

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: All I can say is that this wording is the recommendation of the Parliamentary Counsel and is the way the issue has been dealt with to date. Whether one likes it or not is another issue. The Bill refers to "any director, manager, secretary or other official of a person referred to in paragraph (a)" and secretary is included to cover everyone.

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: The licences referred to in this section are those issued by the Irish Medicines Board, in connection with the operation of the various licensing schemes under the UN Conventions on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. These licences, permits, authorisations and so forth are issued to manufacturers, suppliers and wholesalers of controlled drugs. On occasion they are also issued, for...

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: It is a sine qua non that nurses, doctors, pharmacists and others involved in this area would undertake continuous education courses. No profession would claim that once individuals are qualified, they do not need postgraduate education. An Bord Altranais ensures that continuous education takes place among nurses. That would be happening automatically, in effect.

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: Section 4 amends section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to allow for the activities of the Irish Medicines Board to include the granting of licences, permits or authorisations under the Misuse of Drugs Act. To date, this activity was carried out by the Department of Health and Children and is now being transferred to the IMB, which will be responsible for the management and supervision of...

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: The consent of the Minister would be required.

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: The Irish Medicines Board would make a recommendation to the Minister and the Minister would accept or reject it. It would not involve a political row because the Minister of the day would be foolish to ignore the recommendations of the board. The products must be licensed to be manufactured and used properly. The Irish Medicines Board has the expertise and is there to advise the Minister,...

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: I do not have the regulation on the powers of the Irish Medicines Board but they have existed from the time of the National Drugs Advisory Board. There has been no addition to or diminution in those powers. Senator Browne is incorrect to say that this further diminishes the powers of the Department. The Department of Health and Children makes decisions for the Government on policy.

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: It is the responsibility of the Irish Medicines Board to advise the Minister on technical matters such as the usage and licensing of drugs, particularly the ones Senator Ryan mentioned. It already does that for all drugs to ensure legislation in Ireland is up to date, so there is no change. Many people try to circumvent legislation with counterfeit drugs and Members will be aware of a case in...

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: As far as I am aware, licences for the export of drugs will only be issued if they are being manufactured for export to other countries. Obviously manufacturers will be aware of the different regulations. The point the Senator made about the Internet is a valid one. I share his concern on the matter. I have had a few meetings with all the different agencies involved. It is not just a problem...

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: Not only do we not have the information the Senator seeks, it is extremely difficult to get it because many of these companies are illegal and can move quickly from their country of origin. One may think one is sourcing a drug on the Internet from America, but it could come from anywhere in the world. We have had discussions on this matter. However, it is extremely difficult to get any handle...

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: I presume the Senator is speaking hypothetically.

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: The Irish Medicines Board is aware of the problem and there have been some arrests. There is good co-operation between the Irish Medicines Board and the Revenue Commissioners in regard to seizing drugs coming into the country and so on, but it is extremely difficult. If the Senator is interested, I would be pleased if he joined the working group because we need all the expertise available.

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: No difficulties have been encountered in this area. It is inappropriate that the current prohibition should continue to apply.

Seanad: Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: Amendment No. 1 seeks to delete section 1 of the Bill and replace it with a new section, which gathers together all the citations and commencement provisions. These amendments were originally suggested by the Labour Party but have been slightly amended based on advice received from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. I, therefore, cannot accept amendment No. 2. I thank Senators for their...

Written Answers — Disability Payments: Disability Payments (29 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: Under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, an interdepartmental working group, chaired by the Department of Health and Children, was established to examine the feasibility of introducing a cost of disability payment. The National Disability Authority, NDA, on behalf of the working group, and in line with its own remit, commissioned research into the feasibility of a cost of disability...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (29 Nov 2005)

Tim O'Malley: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.