Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to legislate for a new offence of supplying and administering date rape drugs. [15474/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, section 12 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, provides that it is an offence for a person, intentionally or recklessly to administer to, or cause another to take, a substance which he or she knows is capable of interfering substantially with that other person's bodily functions, where he or she knows that the person does not consent to that action taking place. The section also provides that a substance capable of inducing unconsciousness or sleep is deemed capable of interfering substantially with bodily functions. In the light of the commitment in the Programme for Government, 2007 - 2012, to introduce legislation covering the area of "date rape", the need for a specific legislative provision, covering this area, is being given careful consideration within my Department.