Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

425. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to make EpiPens more widely available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9246/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am happy to confirm to the Deputy that a public consultation process on easier access to 'rescue' drugs in emergencies, including adrenaline auto-injectors, commenced on 20 February 2015.

The review of current arrangements being undertaken by the Department of Health aims to explore the feasibility of setting up a system to allow appropriately trained non-medical persons to have ready access to certain prescription-only medicines for use in emergency situations, while ensuring that medicines continue to be controlled in an appropriate manner.

Submissions to the public consultation are expected from a wide variety of respondents. It is anticipated that strong engagement from the public and other stakeholders will help to inform a policy decision in this area within the coming months. The details of the consultation process can be found on my Department's website www.health.gov.ie. The closing date for responses is 13 March 2015.