Minister for drugs targets head shops

THE new minister for drugs has said both he and the Government were determined to stop head shops operating.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey made the uncompromising statement as he revealed there were now estimated to be more than 100 head shops in the country.

His comments came as hundreds protested outside a head shop in Donegal Town at the weekend, five days after a live bomb was planted at its sister shop in Letterkenny. A protest is due to be held this Saturday outside local head shops in Newbridge, Co Kildare.

Mr Carey, previously a minister of state in charge of the national drugs strategy in the same department, told the Dáil, as a minister, he was assuming direct responsibility for the drugs brief.

“The Government is under no illusion about the determination of head shop owners, many of whom feel they are fulfilling a useful purpose,” he said.

“I do not share that view but they will do everything to ensure they can operate. I am equally determined, as is the Government, to make sure they cannot, which is all the more reason to ensure we take every step carefully.”

He told the Dáil: “These shops have almost spun out of control in a short space of time. I know the deputies present are as determined as I am to ensure that does not happen because it is causing a considerable amount of legitimate concern.

“There are side effects, apart from the obvious ones of antisocial behaviour and damage to health and society. There is no doubt that many of those products, legal and otherwise, are gateways to the use of other drugs.

“Let no one be under any illusion but that this industry is highly organised and very determined. We will have to proceed with great care and caution in order to ensure we have watertight measures to prevent such shops trading.”

The minister said Department of Health regulations prohibiting a range of substances currently being sold in head shops will come into operation by the end of June, following a three-month notification process to the European Commission.

He said the national advisory committee on drugs was asked to carry out research in this area and that was under way. He said his department has been in contact with the Attorney General about a range of approaches, which are being considered.

Meanwhile, protesters will meet outside the town hall in Newbridge at lunchtime next weekend and march on two stores.

Organiser and local resident Damian Molyneaux said: “In order to protect all, especially our children, it is important that these establishments are forced to close. Those who operate these premises should take a look at what they are doing and those who have rented the premises need to know that we, the people of Newbridge and yonder, are not happy about these head shops.”

Anti-drugs group, Europe Against Drugs (Eurad), will be supporting the protest.