asked the Minister for Health if he will bring forward specific proposals as a health measure to control the unlicensed sale of antibiotics and other drugs.

Under the Poison Regulations, 1982, which came into force on 1 March 1983, the retail sale of antibiotics and other potent drugs, whether for human or veterinary use, is confined to pharmacies and licensed sellers.

Could I ask the Minister one question on this because there is a whole area here which one could cover but I will not get side-tracked into that as I know you would not wish that? I know the Minister referred to this last week and I appreciate him taking time to look at it. Will the Minister make it necessary for the National Drugs Advisory Board to clear drugs which are put on the market for use in animals in the same way as these drugs have to be cleared for use in humans?

I reconstituted the Poisons Council some months ago. That had not been done since 1978 and I did so for the purpose of examining the adequacy of the current controls and to advise me of the need for amendments. The Department of Agriculture have indicated that they propose to establish a consultative committee under the Animals Remedies Act, 1956, to advise the Minister on the making of regulations aimed at placing greater controls over the availability of veterinary antibiotics and hormones. My Department will be represented on that committee but there are substantial regulations in force already.

Would the Minister consider a suggestion that the Drugs Advisory Board should clear drugs for use in animals in the same way as they have to clear drugs for humans? Could I also ask him once more if he has any specific proposals to make sure that the same testing procedure applies to meat for home consumption as to that for export?

The Minister for Agriculture is specifically responsible for the use of antibiotics in animals and I do not propose to devolve that responsibility on the National Drugs Advisory Board. That board have a great deal to do in relation to drugs for human consumption.