Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I will not comment on Senator Ryan's love life as he is not here. The purchase of medicines over the Internet is an international problem. Many of these companies, which possibly operate in the US and theBahamas, move constantly and it is very difficult to locate and bring charges against them.

This matter was first brought to my attention by Stephen McMahon of the Irish Patients Association and others. Since last week, I have received correspondence from the Irish Patients Association, which has devoted a considerable amount of work to the issue and which expects to present a report to my Department in the near future.

My Department has held discussions with the association, the Revenue Commissioners and people with expertise in IT. It is a very difficult issue which countries larger than Ireland have failed to control and I can give no guarantees as to how successful we will be. We are working with the Irish Medicines Board and the Customs and Excise to ensure that vulnerable people are not abused and will not be able to gain access to illicit products or products of doubtful origin. People who purchase medicines over the Internet often receive products which are completely different. The problem lies in the fact that the area is unregulated.

There will be no problem with members of the public buying medicines prescribed by pharmacists in Northern Ireland and bringing them back over the Border. Pharmacists would be upholding the legislation under any regulations drafted by the UK Government. It could force people from this country to go to Northern Ireland to procure drugs which they might have been able to buy here if legislation allowing pharmacists to prescribe medicines was introduced. However, I see no problem with the safety or efficacy of the drugs prescribed.