Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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114. To ask the Minister for Health the current status of the amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act proposing changes to prescribing practice and scheduling regulation of benzodiazepine and Z-drugs which have been in a lengthy consultation phase since 2012; when it is planned to enforce the changes which it is hoped will assist in reducing the high levels of open street dealing [36487/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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My Department is reviewing the Misuse of Drugs Regulations with a view to introducing substantial additional controls on certain prescription drugs being traded illicitly, such as benzodiazepines and z-drugs medicines. The planned measures include introducing import and export controls, tighter prescribing and dispensing controls as well as an offence of possession, thereby assisting the law enforcement roles of Customs and An Garda Síochána.

Draft amendment Regulations have been prepared following extensive consultation with key stakeholders. Some further work is required and the objective is to finalise the text of the Regulations later this year. Once the Regulations are ready, they are subject to a 3 month EU notification period under the Technical Standards Directive, because of the implications of the proposed regulatory changes on trade in pharmaceutical products.