Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children agrees in principle with the purpose of the amendment that fines must be kept up to date. However, this is a complex area with substantial legal implications. The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children does not wish to amend legislation in this area on a piecemeal basis. The Government is considering introducing a fines Bill, which may include a scheme for the general indexation of fines. As heads of such a Bill are with the Attorney General's office, it would be inappropriate to put an indexation provision in the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005.