Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the level of inter-Departmental engagement that has taken place in relation to the proliferation of head shops here; the potential risks and dangers involved in the consumption of the products on sale in these outlets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43238/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions numbered 328, 340 and 324 on 17 November 2009. As outlined in that response, I am very concerned at the proliferation of headshops and I have raised these concerns in many fora. My concerns in relation to the selling of substances that are represented as being "legal highs" or "herbal highs" centre on the potential health hazard arising and the fear that use of these products may act as a gateway to the use of illicit drugs.

The matter has been discussed at the first meeting of the Oversight Forum on Drugs, set up under the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, in October. This Forum, which I chair, is comprised of representatives, at senior level, from the various parties involved in the implementation of the Strategy.

Also under the Strategy, I have had meetings in recent weeks with the Minister for Health & Children and the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform and headshops were among the issues considered. I also discussed headshops at meetings in the past two weeks with the Garda Commissioner and senior Revenue officials.

Under the new National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 it is proposed (i) to monitor the activities of headshops, and all businesses involved in the sale of psychoactive substances, with the objective of ensuring that no illegal activity is undertaken and (ii) to ensure that steps are taken to reform legislation in this respect where it is deemed to be appropriate. Meanwhile, An Garda Síochána and Revenue's Customs Service are working to ensure that no illegal substances are sold in these premises.