Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I assure the Deputy that the Government is fully cognisant of the dangers posed by head shops and the psychoactive substances they sell. I have been working closely with my Cabinet colleagues on an interdepartmental basis to develop effective responses to the threats involved. The Minister for Health and Children is introducing controls under the Misuse of Drugs Acts on a broad range of psychoactive substances, commonly referred to as "legal highs", which are sold in head shops and through the Internet. These regulations will be introduced with immediate effect, following on from approval by the relevant European Union authorities. The regulations will make the possession and sale of the substances involved illegal and subject to criminal sanctions.

Following cross-departmental consideration of the issues involved, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform brought legislative proposals to Government today to make it a criminal offence to sell or supply substances that are not prohibited under the Misuse of Drugs Acts but that have psychoactive effects on humans. These proposals were accepted by Government and it is hoped to have legislation drafted before the summer recess. In addition, the Government is responding to the problem of head shops on several fronts. For example, as part of the current interdepartmental and inter-agency response to the issue, relevant Departments and Government agencies are reviewing existing legislative provisions to establish whether head shops are in compliance with the legislative provisions applying. The Garda Síochána and Revenue's customs service are closely monitoring the activities of head shops on an ongoing basis with a view to ensuring no substances currently illegal are being sold. The Health Service Executive, in association with partner agencies under the national drugs strategy, is finalising a national drugs awareness campaign that will focus on the dangers of psychoactive substances available through head shops and the Internet. In addition, the national advisory committee on drugs has been asked to carry out some targeted research in this area.

I assure the Deputy that I will continue to work closely with my ministerial colleagues in vigorously pursuing all viable approaches to counter the threats posed by head shops and psychoactive substances.

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