Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I echo Senator Lombard's comments in complimenting the Minister on the work he has done in the Department of Justice over the past six months. He has been extremely proactive and I congratulate him. I also want to pay tribute to Young Fine Gael for taking on this campaign over the past 12 months, and for highlighting the issue. Some people probably felt spiking is not an issue in certain areas, but it is an issue on the ground. Despite the figures that have been published with the prevalence of reported cases, the reality is that multiple cases are not being reported. I pay tribute to the members of Young Fine Gael, and in particular, Eoghan Gallagher, who has just joined us. He has done a considerable amount of work on this.We all get involved in politics, at whatever age, to try to make positive changes for those in our community. This shows that by getting involved in a youth political organisation, particularly Young Fine Gael, a person can take on something that he or she sees is an issue, tackle it, campaign on it, work with the elected representatives, and come here on the day to actually get legislative changes made that are going to make a difference and make life safer for people when they go out socially. That is really what it is about. It is about protecting and making safe those who are going on a night out, especially females, who are the main targets of spiking.

I remember that when I was going out and had an active social life, which is too far away for me to wish to recall, this was never talked about, it never existed, it never happened and we never had to worry about it. I am a parent of three young boys, but in particular for parents of young girls going out, unfortunately, that has changed from what it was then to what it is now. That is a worry and, as Senator Currie said, people are actually going out and paying €5 to test their drink because they cannot go out safely. That cannot be tolerated.

I pay tribute to Senator Doherty and Senator Ward, who have taken on the legislation and worked with Young Fine Gael to bring it here today. Senator Lombard mentioned secondary schools, which is where we need to expand this. The promotion of this campaign has been in the universities and we need, collectively, to roll that out through our schools and make sure people highlight the issues in order that we reduce the incidence of this. I call on some of the national organisations I have met in regard to the so-called lid levy project, on which Young Fine Gael is also working. We want to get the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland on board with this campaign to highlight it in their own premises and make sure staff are sufficiently trained to watch out for instances of this, but also to put in measures that will stop people being able to do it.

I welcome the legislation. I pay tribute to Young Fine Gael and to Senator Doherty and Senator Ward. I look forward to it being enacted in law.