Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the reversal of the decision to withdraw the air-sea rescue service from Waterford Airport during night-time hours. It was a ludicrous decision from the beginning and I am glad it has been reversed. I acknowledge the fact that the Government has recognised the error it made and that it has been rectified. Everyone in the south east welcomes this.

The United Kingdom has introduced a 14-year sentence for the importation or sale of mephedrone. When will this substance be banned in Ireland? There is a suggestion we are waiting for a uniform system for banning such products from the European Union. I suggest all products in head shops be licensed by the Irish Medicines Board and the Food Safety Authority. This would be the way to solve the problem and rid the country of this scourge in every town and county.

I ask our Green Party colleagues on the other side whether Fianna Fáil has had any representation on Monaghan County Council in the last 15 years. It is a question they should ask themselves.