Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I support Senators McFadden and Keaveney in their call for an update from the Minister for Health and Children on the increase in the number of head shops in the country, in particular with regard to the drug known as BZP. I raised this matter on the Adjournment last November. The drug, commonly known as the "party pill" or "legal E", is a synthetic stimulant with the chemical name benzylpiperazine. It was originally used as a warming treatment for animals. An EU decision last year made BZP subject to control measures. A Council decision states quite clearly that, due to its stimulant properties, risk to health and the lack of medical benefits, and following the precautionary principle, there is a need to control BZP. The EU Council of Ministers decided on 3 March 2008 that the drug should be regulated in accordance with the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971. I understand EU member states have up to 12 months to introduce legislation to ban the drug. As 3 March 2009 is fast approaching, I call on the Leader to ask the Minister for Health and Children to state the up-to-date position on introducing such legislation. I do not believe legislation is necessary to ban the drug and that it could be banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 by adding it to the relevant list of banned substances. I ask the Leader to provide us with an update on this matter urgently because the drug is causing serious damage to the young and most vulnerable in every town.