Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I share the congratulations and hope at the dawn of a new era with the election of the President-elect, Senator Obama. His example so far and the vision he has put forward offer hope that there will be good, clean, positive politics that can bring about change for the better.

The issue I wish to raise is the concern that has been brought to my attention by parents, young people and addiction counsellors throughout the country about the availability of herbal ecstasy. It is known as the party pill. As I speak, two youngsters are in the psychiatric unit in Galway being treated for the effects of this drug. They are being mentally unscrambled as a result of this substance. The most awful aspect of this issue is that this substance is currently legally available. The Health Service Executive has brought it to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Mary Harney, who has said she will do something about it next March. However, it is an urgent matter. In one case, a young man from Galway found himself in Cork but did not know how he got there. The drug has shown up in urine over the last year and a half. Hallowe'en is just over and Christmas is approaching so we urgently need legislation.

I ask the Leader to bring this to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Harney. I understand that HSE staff have been silenced on this matter and have been threatened with losing their posts if they speak out. This is a serious allegation. We need urgent and immediate legislation to protect our youngsters, who do not realise what they are taking, and to make this legal high illegal.