James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

It is a question of how many headshops are open. We are all aware that they completely and continually circumvent the law with disastrous consequences for our young people. I have asked the Minister previously why she has not issued a ministerial directive insisting that all products sold in these shops are passed either by the Medicines Board or by the Food Safety Authority.

I have also asked that the Minister's colleague in Government, the Minister, Deputy Gormley, would issue a directive bringing these shops under planning law such that he could dictate their location, which should be not within ten kilometres of a school, pub or club, and to dictate their opening hours, that is between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

I accept this is a difficult problem. However, it will require a multifaceted approach to close off all the avenues. Given the amount of money they have behind them, as sure as apples are apples these people will seek to circumvent the next legislation as well. Let us at least cut off all the predictable loopholes. I would not hold the Minister or any other Minister responsible for an unpredictable loophole which appears, but we should act on those which are predictable.

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