Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

The decision to ban head shop products is but one step on the journey. It is unfortunate we still lag behind other countries in tackling the issue of head shops. I ask the Leader to provide time for a debate on head shops, especially on measures that can be taken to pre-empt the arrival of new products on the shelves of head shops. We must never allow the drugs trade to go underground or drug lords to prosper in our society. Today the Government has listened to the will of the people and to the requests of those on the Opposition benches.

I request a debate on the role of the church and that of the State. Archbishop Martin, in what he said, unleashed the need for yet another debate on this matter. As somebody who is a beacon of hope and a great leader of his flock and of us all, he deserves to be listened to, but if there are dark and evil forces within civic society or within religious life, they must rooted out and we must never allow evil to prosper. As Senator Hanafin rightly said, Canon Law and civil law are now equal and the rule of the law of the land is the law that we must all follow. It is important that we have a very long debate on this matter.