James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans she will put in place to provide guidelines to protect patient safety in relation to Internet pharmacies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11721/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am aware of concerns regarding the online sale of medicinal products. Such sales do not have any requirement for the type of consultation and safety precautions which normally accompany the sale of a medicinal product. There are also concerns in regard to the quality of products sold in this manner due to the high level of counterfeit products.

Anyone purchasing medicinal products via the Internet would normally have such products delivered by post. It is an offence in this country to supply prescription only medicines by mail order. The Irish Medicines Board is responsible for investigating breaches of the medicines legislation in Ireland and the Board works closely with the Revenue Commissioners to enforce these provisions.

The Board monitors the activities of online website suppliers, a great number of which pose as pharmacies, and takes action against such websites where possible. However the difficulties associated with policing the Internet in general also apply to online sales of medicinal products. The vast majority of internet pharmacies are based outside Ireland and this poses challenges in the area of enforcement. The Board works in partnership with medicines enforcement agencies in Europe and elsewhere and has in the past taken action to stop the supply of medicinal products by online pharmacies based outside Ireland.