Mark Dearey (Green Party)

In regard to the issue of head shops, Senator Mullen asked if we are going far enough. He is right. We must address the cultural phenomenon these shops are creating. They are located on the main streets of our towns and are making drug taking, illicit or otherwise, seem like a mainstream activity. When it comes to enforcement the ban on substances is extremely welcome, and the Minister is to be commended for it, but we must consider enforcement in terms of sitting on this new cultural phenomenon, so to speak. It is a planning enforcement issue as well and there is a range of planning methods we must consider in regard to these shops including change of use, opening times and so on because they will morph from substance to substance. They will continue to peddle their wares in their shop windows and reinforce the sense that these substances are normal and mainstream. That is the wrong message and we ought to have the Minister come into the House to discuss the issue of head shops from a planning enforcement point of view.