andMr. Governey asked the Minister for Health whether he will take steps to set up a medicines commission to examine and co-ordinate the conditions under which medicines are supplied to the public and to make recommendations for the preparation of a comprehensive Medicines Bill; and, if not, why.

The Government has already approved of the preparation of comprehensive legislation for controlling the safety, quality and efficacy of medical preparations and I would expect to have a Bill before the House within the next year.

In the meantime, the National Drugs Advisory Board operate a scheme for monitoring the safety of medical preparations on the market in this country. Furthermore, as an interim measure pending the enactment of the legislation, I propose to make regulations under the Health Acts providing for a scheme of inspection and licensing of pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. The National Drugs Advisory Board have appointed an inspector for this purpose.

Comhairle na Nimheanna which was established under the Poisons Act, 1961, advises the Minister for Health, in relation to regulations under section 14 of the Act, for controlling the sale and distribution of poisons, including medicines. I will be referring to the position regarding the proposed poisons regulations in my reply to a further question by the Deputies today.

Could the Minister say if there is any close liaison with the particular body in Britain on this question?

Yes. We get regular reports not only from the National Drugs Advisory Board in Great Britain but also such advice as we can get which is very often extremely useful from the World Health Organisation.