Written answers

Tuesday, 12 October 2010

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Headshop Closures

9:00 am

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 337: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the reason headshops have not been closed down as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36161/10]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As of 7th October 2010, only 11 so called headshops remained open for business. None of these outlets, to date, have been found or are suspected to be involved in the sale or supply of harmful psychoactive products. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act, 2010, which came into effect on 23 August, 2010, has had an immediate positive effect in vastly reducing the number of 'headshop' outlets open for business throughout the country. This compares to an equivalent figure provided to me earlier this year by the Garda authorities in May this year to the effect that 102 headshops were operating in the State at that time.

The above Act is part of the Government's multi-pronged approach to targeting the activities of headshops and the sale of unregulated psychoactive substances. It works in tandem with the ongoing controlling as appropriate of identified harmful substances by the Department of Health and Children through the Misuse of Drugs legislation and also links in with the HSE's current National Drugs Awareness campaign which is highlighting the dangers of the use of psychoactive substances.

Finally, I can assure the Deputy that the situation will continue to be closely monitored by senior Garda management.

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