Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Absolutely. The Garda carried out raids on head shops previously and was in some instances successful in seizing some products. In other instances, it entered head shops and found there was nothing illegal under the current legislation. It was able to visit up to 106 head shops nationally within 24 hours of the Government obtaining consent from the Commission. That was no coincidence and was co-ordinated with the Government. I thank the Garda for this.

The substances that have been impounded or taken will be analysed and if there are prosecutions to be taken, they will be taken. The important point is to ensure that no new potentially psychoactive products are made available for sale. If they are, we must deal with them, be it specifically or more generally under the proposed new legislation. We must ensure the head shops that continue in operation, and the distribution centres for head shops, have no banned substances therein.

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