Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Minister for Health when he will publish the report into the public consultation on whether to make a number of prescription-only medicines, used in emergency situations, more widely available, including EpiPens, which are used to treat allergic shock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17998/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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152. To ask the Minister for Health when he will conclude his review into the possible wider availability of a number of prescription-only medicines, used in emergency situations, more widely available, including EpiPens, which are used to treat allergic shock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17999/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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153. To ask the Minister for Health when he will bring forward recommendations on the wider availability of a number of prescription-only medicines, used in emergency situations, more widely available, including EpiPens, which are used to treat allergic shock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18000/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, together.

I launched a public consultation process on the wider availability of a number of prescription-only medicines used in emergency situations on 20 February. The consultation forms part of a wider review which 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. The medicines under consideration are adrenaline, salbutamol, glucagon, naloxone and glyceryl trinitrate.

Members of the public and other stakeholders were asked to respond to the consultation by mid-March. Submissions have been received from a wide variety of respondents and analysis of these responses is under way. My Department has also consulted with a number of health care organisations and agencies to ensure that the various options for extending the availability of certain prescription-only medicines for use in emergency situations are fully explored. The outcome of these discussions and feedback from the public consultation are currently being considered. I expect to receive a report and policy recommendations shortly. I will then consider the report and make a policy decision on the best way to proceed. The report of the consultation will be made available on my Department's website once this process is complete.