Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I have a function in that. We are taking steps to deal with the products sold in so-called head shops. In addition, the declaration order under the 1977 Act will include some substances that have legitimate uses as medicines but which can be subject to misuse, as well as certain narcotic and psychotropic substances which Ireland is obliged to bring under control to comply with the relevant United Nations conventions. As soon as the necessary consents issue from Europe, these prohibitions will be put in place by the Minister for Health and Children. In any event, without criticising the proposal, I am not sure the licensing route is the appropriate route to take in this type of premises. Instead, we must close them down and outlaw the substances they sell.

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