Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will provide assistance to the many blind people here by insisting that braille is put on medicines, cleaning products and food items; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20424/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In so far as my area of responsibility is concerned, the European Communities (Classification, Packaging, Labelling and Notification of Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2003, S.I. No 116 of 2003 and the European Communities (Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Preparations) Regulations 2004, S.I. No 62 of 2004, which transpose the requirements of Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC respectively, require that packaging for substances and preparations offered or sold to the general public should carry a tactile warning of danger where those substances and preparations are labelled as very toxic, toxic, corrosive or harmful, extremely flammable or highly flammable. This warning takes the form of a raised triangle and has to meet the technical specifications set out in the EN/ISO standard 11683 as amended. Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC also provides for this requirement.

My colleague the Minister for Health and Children has responsibility for food labelling, and via the Irish Medicines Board, for labelling of medicines. The Department of Health and Children is responsible for the Office for Disability and Mental Health. My colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is responsible for equality issues arising from a disability.