Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to both our guests here this morning for not being here to hear their full contribution. However, I read my copy of it in advance of this meeting. The clash between the timing of this committee's sessions and parliamentary questions to Ministers has irked us for a long time.

This is not an abstract issue, but is about people. Once again, speaking on behalf of my entire home community, I extend sympathy to Sharon McQuaid and her family on the tragic death of her son, P.J., and to Michael Power and the Power family on the sad passing of his son, Michael junior. This is the reality of the presence and ever-growing threat represented by so-called legal highs. Our community has been severely hit, not only with the tragic loss of two young lives but by the fact that many other lives have been significantly impaired and seriously affected. This was demonstrated in a recent television interview and has been graphically outlined in the report commissioned by Teach na Daoine. I understand copies of that report will be circulated to members before the conclusion of today's session. I commend Teach na Daoine on its initiative and its support for not only the immediate community it serves but the wider community in Monaghan whose interests it has always sought to represent.

It is vital that members not just of the Joint Committee on Health and Children but also of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality inform themselves on this issue and collectively impact on Government consciousness in regard to the threat presented by legal highs. We will have an opportunity to hear and question the newly appointed Minister of State with responsibility in this area, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, shortly. I wish him every success in his new role and responsibilities. We would urge that one of the first things he should do is inform himself in regard to any deficiency in the legislation to ensure there can be no question or doubt on the part of the Garda or the wider community as to the effectiveness and efficiency of existing legislation. We also urge that he takes the required steps to amend legislation as required to properly combat this substance threat.

The Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010, which saw the demise of the head shops, clearly has loopholes that allow for modified and re-modified substance manufacture and marketing. The efforts in evidence in my community are geared towards a particular profile of young people and the opening statement from Packie Kelly indicates the profile of the users. That profile is a particular cohort of people in every one of our communities who are clearly at risk. This is not only a County Monaghan or a Cavan-Monaghan issue. It is an issue of concern throughout this State and island.

I have a few questions in regard to mental health services, for young people in particular. I understand there is some difficulty in this regard and that the mental health services will not deal directly with a young person presenting with substance abuse, either its side effects or active use of legal highs. Their position is that this abuse in some way disguises what might be underlying mental health issues. It is important we give some attention to the point made in the presentation about compounding difficulties in securing treatment for young people. This issue must be examined in tandem with an evaluation of the legislation's fitness for purpose. Will Mr. Kelly and Mr. Murphy explain the situation in regard to the relationship with local gardaí? What do they feel are the difficulties in regard to the Garda facing up to and presenting a serious challenge to the proliferation of these products? Will they expand on the difficulties there are in securing access to and support from local mental health services?