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Updated 11pm
PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins signed the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2015 at Áras an Uachtaráin tonight – once again making possession of certain drugs illegal.
The Seanad earlier debated all stages of the amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 – which was passed by the Dáil last night.
The emergency legislation was brought before TDs following a Court of Appeal ruling yesterday which found a sub-section of the Act to be repugnant to the Constitution.
As a result of the ruling drugs such as ecstasy, ketamine, magic mushrooms, crystal meth and other substances were temporarily made legal to possess in Ireland.
In the Dáil last night, Health Minister Leo Varadkar said the “short but important bill” would restate the ban on the drugs in question.
The bill had cross-party support although Sinn Féin and independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan called on the government to appoint a drugs minister, an issue that has been in the news recently.
Independent TD Thomas Pringle tabled a number of amendments aimed at strengthening the legislation although these were voted down.
Thomas Pringle T.D. / TwitterEmergency Misuse of Drugs Bill to be debated soon. I will be proposing amendment to strengthen Oireachtas oversight for the future. #Dail
— Thomas Pringle (@ThomasPringleTD) March 10, 2015
The government has indicated that it may appeal the Court of Appeal ruling to the Supreme Court in the coming weeks.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Varadkar also indicated that more legislation in this area would be introduced later in the year.
A provision in the bill states that it comes into operation on the day immediately after its passing. That means ecstasy and all of the other substances referenced in the bill will be banned again from midnight.
Includes reporting by Daragh Brophy.
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Is yoke day to become an annual thing?
The fact that ecstasy was legal for a few days didn’t make everyone rush out to take it. The weekend user is still going to use ecstasy at the weekend whether the drug is legal or illegal.
The fact that’s illegal makes it more appealing to some people.
*That its
You had it semantically and syntactically correct the first time; that’s == that is. You added a typo in fixing it :-)
Exactly Johnny. Love to hear from the Gardai if they had to deploy the riot squad as society broke down last night, according to Leo Varadkyr it was up to them if they needed to put extra numbers on the streets. Can someone in The Journal find out if last night was any different than any other Tuesday night regarding civil disobedience, more people getting hugged than usual?
You must have such an exciting social life!!
Was that aimed at me? Sorry, if you took my comment up wrong. I assumed the smiley, :-), was universal language for humour. This was the first article I visited today, and just found your fixing of an apparent typo with a typo mildly humourous. I thought the smiley implied it wasn’t just excessive nitpicking.
I have a very exciting social life by the way. How you predicted that from the fact I found some mild humour in your typo is beyond me, but you could have the gift. Use it wisely.
You find grammar humerus??? Proves my point about your exciting social life. And as far as I can see, now correct me if I’m wrong but I didn’t see a smiley in your hilarious comment about my grammar.
// You added a typo in fixing it :-) //
See the :-) at the end — that’s an old fashioned smiley. If you still can’t see it let me know, and I’ll see if I can help further.
No, I don’t find grammar humourous, and I’m not sure where you got that idea from. I found the fact you went to the effort of fixing what you thought was a typo, and ended up adding a typo, mildly humourous. If you don’t, that’s fine. A quick Google of “humourous grammatical errors” leads me to believe I’m not the first to find humour in the topic though.
I’m not sure what you’ve proved about my social life. It might come as a shock to you, but I’m not out socialising right now. I’m not sure how my adding of a single post here somehow affected my social life.
*humorous
Wrong
Isn’t it great that they were able to legislate so quickly on this issue but two years after REA rates were declared unconstitutional, nothing. I suppose it not connected to the schools building program.
Funny how Ecstacy is now legal yet my right to marry is not :(
And i cant have 3 wives
One requires a change in the constitution which requires a referendum hence the delay. It’s on its way and from anything I’ve read it should pass easily.
I know you’re being sarcastic.
Here’s a crazy thought. Keep them legal and see what happens. I doubt much would other then the obvious benefits to ending prohibition.
The war on drugs is coming to an end, you can see patterns everywhere, USA legalising cannabis being the obvious indicator. I expect in our lifetime most drugs will be legal and regulated, even heroin believe it or not.
Thank goodness that adults are once again not allowed to decide for themselves whether these substances are too harmful to ingest. God only knows what would have happened had a liberal view prevailed.
My teeth. Hurry up!
God knows what they popped in the Dail last night???.
All for research purposes I’m sure..
Passed at 1.39am and all you could hear was boom boom music and whistles and a huge clould of white smoke hanging overhead. ..
Rumour has it the enda was dressed up in a clean room suit and bopping away with glow sticks!
Gerry and Enda sitting in a dark press hugging and telling eachother how much they loved each other
Well THAT should stop people from taking them!!!!
Legalize Marijuana !
http://www.sgoal.org/Legalize-Marijuana-in-the-European-Union
And yokes!
And mushrooms, don’t forget the mushrooms.
How the fcuk did our society ever get to a point where the adult use of natural plants & mushrooms is prohibited by law? It’s insane!
……and how long did we wait for them to legislate on the X-case!!!! but sure that was only women’s health and lives
How come we didn’t have a referendum on the matter!
This shower of garbage we have in the Dail make me puke. They just have not a clue how people outside their exclusive little club live their lives.
I am nostalgic for the days when Hot Press was worth reading. The slide began with the Brian Cowen interview.
Anything that touches a politician gives off a faintly incoherent smell for ever after. Leo Varadka really is a polished turd.
Just a few random thoughts.
Cracks over lads.
How can a Christian country outlaw the work of God? I mean the magic mushrooms, isn’t it a hypocrisy. I thought the God doesn’t make mistakes.
He made Enda !
I thought the other fella was responsible for him…
Shite, better take everything I have left now so. See ya all next week…. On the planet omacron persi 8, I’ll be beside the 4 headed unicorn that urinates love, under the tree of thought, eating gumdrop flowers planted by the farmer of galaxies…
Or chewing my jaw till it bleeds while mashing imaginary potatoes..
Killjoys!
Should definitely be referendum on cannabis by now and mushrooms to many old timers in government they have no vision
Bet some party is been had in Ireland!!
I will wait for the phone calls/facetimes from very enthusiastic and over excited people with saucer’s for eyes soon then! Lol
Rapid BUZZ
Rapid BUZZ
Rapid BUZZ
Legalise the whole lot and let natural selection work it’s wonders. Then close the gate and call it quits.
Does anybody know how this will affect past convictions based on an unconstitutional law? I really have no idea but it would seem like a guy in the Joy put away for dealing ecstacy or meth might be getting ideas and talking to their solicitor.
Someone must have been watching Breaking Bad recently :-)
skagged outta my mind today though ..
They didnt leave mush room for talking sense
Easy come, Easy go…
eradicated
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