Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he is taking directly with the Chinese Government and at EU level to address the reports from the BBC and other media outlets of the mass production of psychoactive, head shop-type products in China for the EU and Irish markets; if he has contacted the Chinese Ambassador in respect of the alleged production of head shop-type products in China for the market here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25942/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The increasing emergence of a large number of new unregulated psychoactive substances specifically designed to circumvent drug controls in Europe is currently a matter of primary concern for the European Union. While officials from various Government Departments, including my own, continue to work closely with the EU and UN international drugs policy fora tackling this issue, I firmly believe that decisive national action is also needed to address this problem. The production of such psychoactive products.substances can occur anywhere worldwide including China.

Given this and the availability and use of the Internet to market and sell such substances and the fact that organisations involved in such manufacturing operations can move locations relatively easily I believe that strong general controls by way of criminal justice legislation to deal with the supply of such substances is the most effective means of dealing with this problem. It is for these reasons that I am introducing the Criminal Justice (Psychotropic Substances) Bill 2010 which will criminalise the unlawful importation and or sale of psychotropic substances. The publication of this Bill is imminent and these measures will complement our existing Department of Health and Childrens' Misuse of Drugs legislation under which substances are deemed to be controlled drugs. In addition, I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the Gardaí will, at the most senior levels, continue to closely monitor the operation of head shop premises in this jurisdiction.