Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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416. To ask the Minister for Health the specific changes to the misuse of drugs legislation that need to be put in place, to address the illegal sale of prescription drugs. [14405/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The supply of prescription medicines, including benzodiazepines, is controlled in a number of ways. Under the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations, it is prohibited for a person to supply a prescription medicine except in accordance with a prescription, and the supply must be made from a registered pharmacy by or under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist. A person who contravenes these Regulations is guilty of an offence.

In addition, medicines which have a high potential to be misused are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. A person who has in his possession a prescription medicine containing a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs legislation for the purpose of selling or supplying it, is guilty of an offence under that legislation. A Bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to bring a number of new substances, including certain prescription medicines, under the scope of that legislation is currently being drafted and it is the intention to publish it before the House rises for the summer.

Regulations will also be made to introduce 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.

The Health Product Regulatory Authority which is the competent authority in Ireland for human medicines, Revenue’s Customs service and an Garda Síochána work closely to prevent the unauthorised flow of illegal medicinal products into and out of the State. The enforcement of the law relating to the sale of drugs, including prescription drugs, continues to be a priority in the Government’s commitment to tackling the issue of drug misuse in this jurisdiction.