Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Given the range of substances we are dealing with and what the Minister has just said about it changing on a daily basis, one body should be in charge of ensuring there is a proper register of such substances and their alternatives. I will be pressing some of these amendments because I believe there is a role for a regulatory authority, although I am willing to compromise in favour of giving some of these functions to the National Advisory Committee on Drugs. As the Minister admitted, the committee is already doing work in this field and should probably be further resourced to ensure this work can continue.

A prohibition notice can be served on a person, which could be somebody working behind the counter in a shop. It is not specified that this should be the owner or manager of the shop or any other particular person. Thus, the Garda might have to serve 20 or 30 notices before the shop eventually closes down.

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