Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
1011. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the legislation and regulations that apply in relation to the dispensing of palliative sedation/midazolam; who should be consulted and in what circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4229/26]
View answerIn the Irish Misuse of Drugs legislative framework Midazolam, a benzodiazepine, is classified as a Schedule 4 Part 1 controlled drug.
A “repeat prescription”, as defined in the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended, means a prescription which may be dispensed more than once.
Schedule 4 (part 1) controlled drugs may be repeated in line with the directions of the prescriber up to a maximum of six months.
Pharmacists are required to use their professional judgement and decision making regarding every occasion on which a prescription is repeated, and must ensure the therapeutic appropriateness of the supply, taking account of the specific patient needs.
“Instalments” allow the total quantity of the medicine prescribed to be dispensed in smaller, specified amounts, at specified intervals.
All controlled drugs can be legally dispensed in this manner. However, in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (as amended), ‘the number of instalments and the intervals at which the instalments may be dispensed’ must be specified on prescriptions for schedule 4 part 1 controlled drugs.
