asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the proposal of the Kilkenny Health Committee to have heroin made legally available to qualified medical practitioners for use in the treatment of terminally-ill patients.

: I have seen reports of the proposal referred to in the question.

The position is that there is no legal prohibition on the availability or use of heroin for medical purposes. The drug may lawfully be imported under licence, and supplied, by authorised persons as is the case with certain other narcotic drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1934.

I should point out, however, that firms or individuals wishing to import the drug have not been able to obtain supplies since 1968. This position has arisen because, in response to repeated appeals from the United Nations Organisation, the manufacture and use of heroin has been banned in most countries. Although a few countries, notably Great Britain, are continuing the limited use of the drug for domestic medical purposes they have prohibited its export to other countries.

: Would the Minister consider taking powers such as the British Ministry of Health have taken in similar circumstances? Does the Minister feel he should do that, to import it specifically for use as necessary?

: The difficulty is that the British will not export it. They manufacture it.

: Will they not export it at all?

: Being good international citizens they are following the UN recommendation.

: Does the Minister have any position on this? In the case of the treatment of terminally-ill patients this happens to be a valuable painkiller and I should like to know if the Minister will consider it worth making a special case in that regard?

: I have not been pressed but if I was pressed by particular medical people I would certainly consider the suggestion.