Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of synthetic drugs. An assistant State pathologist recently revealed that they had become strikingly common as the cause of sudden and unexpected deaths throughout the country. A particular synthetic drug, U4, was named by a HSE consultant psychiatrist as the cause of more than 50 deaths since 2015. As a result of this unfortunate phenomenon, it is clear that new measures need to be introduced. Fines, community service and the like are not enough to deter the distributors of these substances.

These forms of drugs are extremely dangerous. We believed that we had solved the problem in 2010 when a list of synthetic drugs was banned under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 and the Misuse of Drugs Acts, but they remain a major problem. This is an urgent matter that affects the well-being of Irish society. Increased efforts are urgently needed to stop these drugs getting into the hands of dealers. Furthermore, I am calling for tougher measures to be taken against those convicted of selling and possessing these illegal synthetic drugs. In the context of a related justice debate, will the Leader allow me the opportunity to raise this matter with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality?