Seanad debates

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

2:30 pm

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I join Senator O'Toole in welcoming the decision of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to ban a large number of legal highs that were on sale in head shops until midnight yesterday. In particular, I welcome the fact that from now possession of such drugs and their supply for sale in such shops will be subject to a sanction of up to seven years imprisonment and-or a fine for unlawful possession and, on indictment, of life imprisonment for unlawful supply. As Senator O'Toole stated, this issue has been ongoing for far too long. Two years ago a small number of other Members of this House and I mentioned that head shops were opening throughout the country at an alarming rate. Every county and major town has witnessed their opening since. Therefore, I very much welcome the decision made by the Minister and pay tribute to colleagues on all sides of the House who pursued the issue vigorously. I call on them to keep pursuing it until such time as these shops are forced to close. Unfortunately, their owners will try to find a loophole to get around the ban announced today by the Minister.

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