Speaking to journalists at government buildings Minister Simon Harris said the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016 should be finished going through the Seanad by the start of the summer recess.
The prescription medicine changes to the bill includes so-called z-drugs – zopiclone and zaleplon.
Minister Harris said he was “presenting this Bill today as one part of the whole-of-government approach in dealing with the serious crime situation in the north inner city of Dublin.”
“Following the recent murders in Dublin’s north inner city, Government decided to expedite the drafting and publication of parts of the Misuse of Drugs Bill originally scheduled for the autumn. These drugs are extremely dangerous, they affect people in horrific ways with serious health implications for people who use them and and tragically have been responsible for several deaths.”
There will be a second Misuse of Drugs Bill in the Autumn which will provide for the establishment of supervised injecting facilities for chronic drug users.
