Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of drugs and criminality. Senators heard about the terrible incident in Cork this week involving six people who were left in hospital by the drug 2C-B. They were so psychotic that they were naked, the walls were covered in blood and they did not even realise that one of them was having a heart attack on the floor.

This morning's "Today with Sean O'Rourke" on RTE ran a sad segment about children in Limerick city who were on Valium, Xanax, benzo, spice and TC, which are synthetic drugs. Cannabis and cocaine cost €50 per bag, but a child with lunch money can afford these tablets. A drug dealer in Limerick might be a boy in a nice track suit with a packet of new fags in his pocket because he can afford to buy these drugs and sell them for €10 at €2 per tablet. One will be out of it for the day and end up being sick psychotically.

An articulate 20 year old who is now out of that scene was interviewed. He stated that there was no hope for young people, including his friends. They take these drugs to stay out of it and remain numb because they do not believe that there is any hope. This is our country.

In the UK, the Psychoactive Substances Bill will go through Parliament. It seeks to alter the situation by applying a blanket ban on anything that might be conceived as a mood-altering substance. Possession for personal use will not be an offence, but those found guilty of making or supplying the substances could face up to seven years in prison. The net of the new law is cast deliberately wide and applies to any substance intended for human consumption that is capable of producing a psychoactive effect. This excludes nicotine, food, caffeine, alcohol and medical products.

Two new substances appear on the European market every week. Beautiful, clean laboratories in China are making these drugs everyday. Much of this drug making is funding terrorism. The Minister for Justice and Equality must attend the House to debate this issue and the next Government's term. Something must be done for our youth because "Love/Hate" is here in reality.