Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

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 the purposes of research, to universities.

Senator Browne's amendments relate to nurse-prescribing but I have made provision in the Government amendments to enable this. With regard to paramedical staff, an advanced paramedic training programme commenced this year and ensures that ambulance personnel can administer an additional 19 medications, including, for example, cardiac medicines. A statutory basis has been provided for this scheme and, therefore, I cannot accept these amendments.