Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a drug (details supplied) is no longer available; if her Department has plans to reintroduce this drug; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10130/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The common list of reimbursable medicines for the general medical services and drug payment schemes is reviewed and amended monthly, as new products become available and deletions are notified. For an item to be included on the list, it must comply with published criteria, including authorisation status as appropriate, price and, in certain cases, the intended use of the product. In addition, the product should ordinarily be supplied to the public only by medical prescription and should not be advertised or promoted to the public.

My Department was advised by the manufacturers in 2003 that the product referred to by the Deputy had been discontinued and that it should be removed from the common list. This was a commercial decision taken by the company concerned as it considered that the product was no longer viable. The Irish Medicines Board indicated at the time that newer and more efficient products were available.