Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not propose to support this amendment. In reality it is unnecessary as a result of the court decision today. Any substance we may wish to add to the list of controlled substances can only be done by the Houses of the Oireachtas so should the Government deem it necessary to control another five, six or ten substances next week, or in three weeks time, it will be necessary to do so by putting legislation through the Dáil and the Seanad. I personally do not think that is a good idea. There are so many of these substances it would be very cumbersome for us to have to potentially recall the Dáil and the Seanad on regular occasions just to control a particular substance. Later in the year I will bring forward legislation setting out the policies and principles, thus satisfying the court judgment today that would allow us to resume prohibiting substances by order, or potentially by statutory instrument, which would then involve laying it before the Houses of the Oireachtas and allowing Oireachtas Members who disagree with it to challenge it.

As matters stand, as a result of the court judgment today and the legislation that we are putting through tonight, any additions to the schedule will require primary legislation and the amendments are unnecessary.

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