Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
HEALTH MINISTER SIMON Harris has introduced legislation that will help take so-called ‘Z-drugs’, or sleeping pills, off the streets.
Harris today said he had decided to expedite legislation relating to prescription drugs, Zopiclone and Zaleplon, in the wake of a spate of gangland murders in an ongoing Dublin drugs feud.
The Z-drugs, which Harris said are currently being sold illicitly on the streets, will now be added to the controlled substance list under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
“Following the recent murders in Dublin’s north inner city, the government decided to expedite the drafting and publication of parts of the Misuse of Drugs Bill originally scheduled for the autumn,” Harris said in a statement this afternoon.
These drugs are extremely dangerous, they affect people in horrific ways with serious health implications for people who use them and tragically, have been responsible for several deaths.
Known as Zimmos, Z-drugs are highly powerful sleeping pills, which are used by heroin addicts to help them sleep and numb pain, especially during heroin ‘droughts’.
Since last September, there have been seven murders linked to a feud between rival drug gangs in the city.
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the bill would help gardaí tackling the illegal sale of the substances.
“I am aware of the ongoing problems the gardaí face, particularly in parts of inner city Dublin to stop this activity,” Fitzgerald said.
This bill will assist the ongoing and targeted response to gangland crime. Every effort must be made to prevent their unlawful sale.
Fitzgerald said regulations would be required to allow for legitimate use of the drugs, but she said they should be drafted relatively quickly.
Harris brought the bill to the Seanad today, which is the first step in the parliamentary process. He said he hopes it can be completed by the summer break.
A second Misuse of Drugs Bill will be introduced in the autumn, providing for the establishment of supervised drug injection centres, he added.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Well that should fix it.
The one drug that junkies turn to when they have no heroin and it sedates them so why ban them? A sleeping junkie is good junkie, keeps them out of our faces.
Funny, that’s my exact opinion on conservatives
Fg are what I call proper dimwits do they not know by now that making something illegal is going to make it more expensive and more lucrative for the gangs ff fg gombeen politics is what you get
I know, lets set up a peoples forum to talk about it and hope it all goes away.
Did the price of z-drugs just go up all of a sudden? More profits for the gangs.
That’s right Zaphods! They are increasing!
By the time you’re finished reading this post we could all have learned 5 times our initial investment!
Someone! Tell me how to gather large quantities of these drugs so I can make enough money to establish a criminal empire.
The war on drugs still isn’t working after 40 years so lets try making more substances illegal. Genius stuff right there.
Wow the drug dealers are quaking in their boots with this news.Its a pity banning heroin hasn’t stop people dealing and buying it.The Ministerial advisors are in overdrive this weather, the summer holidays must be beckoning.
Making something illegal does not make it go away. It’s just doing an ostrich instead of dealing with the issue of drug abuse head on and at least getting it into some form of controllable environment. Legislate, legalise and tax . Take it out of the hands of criminals and put tax revenues back into treatment. It’s not just going to go away
So what you are saying is the legislation and taxation of alcohol and tobacco stopped these items being sold on the black market? ….. taxation of goods makes them expensive. People will still buy drugs illegally as they would be cheaper. Even if they didn’t buy drugs illegally, the taxation and legalising of alcohol has made little difference to the alcohol problems in ireland.
Pat….nitpick if you want but removing the criminal element. ..or at least trying is surely better than nothing
That’ll stop them alright…
The precocious schoolboy out of his depth already it would appear.
they only put people who are out of their depth in that position, hence the history of moronic health ministers
Would you do any better ?
Of course.
Jude Perry yes lots of people would do better than these uninspiring muppets.
Dealers are gonna clean up now as the price will go up.
Exactly… Tackling gang land crime by creating another revenue stream for them.
Huh…. Yeah like this is all the gangland lords are up too! Should have stopped the ‘zimmos’ year’s ago that would have stopped the 7 murders… sigh
Ah yes that will work superbly !!!!!!!
wot about the BENZOS and ANTI PSYCHOTICS? yet pot is still banned you can only giggle
Anti psychotics serve a legitimate use, as is obvious from their name. Pot is for losers and layabouts.
Neal Ireland you really are a judgemental pr!ck.
Don’t you have a drinking problem Neal?
Neal if pots for losers here whats alcohol for??
Neal, are you aware of the huge amounts of research which indicates that pot is hugely successful in treating a range of psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety? Not to mention that it is one of the few drugs that successfully treats the suffering of many illnesses.
You might think that your comment is funny, but it is that attitude which is causing untold distress to millions of people across the world who are needlessly deprived of an excellent drug for their condition.
Probably bitched out on his first drag and couldn’t ride the whitey.
I am 100% confident that this measure will make 0% difference.
It will make a negative difference
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. Utterly cynical policy making out of a willfully ignorant, career-minded sleveen.
I think Francis is mentoring and guiding him…he gonna do just fine!
There are trays upon trays of these lying around the north inner city, I’ve seen the zombies take entire trays at a time. Banning them will do nothing. Heroin, cocaine and marijuana is also banned yet I’m offered it on an almost daily basis walking around my area.
It’s already illegal to sell or possess for sale prescription medicines. This new measure is just doing something in order to look life doing something. A complete waste of time. If you want to take junkies off the streets and interrupt the market, introduce injecting rooms and prescribed heroin that can only be used on site. That’s it. All the rest is just pious time wasting
What are the serious health side-effects? Are they more serious than shooting up?
Legislate, he thinks that’s his job done. He can legislate ’till the cows come home, he’s about the only one who thinks that this is all that’s needed. Plonker.
More useless rubbish from clueless people.
I mean look at Alan kelly didn’t he say he was an addict. That he craved it or something. Should we ban whatever it is that he takes as it clearly effects his judgement.
Same old same old, no elected representatives have the cojones to think outside the box and adopt a completely different approach to our drug problem, prohibition always favours the dealer.
Due to the increase of gangland crime?…Balls. All this will do is add to the number of charge sheets.
The Irish government seem to do the exact opposite of what’s good, all the time. WTF????
Why should they bother trying do make make a change Ciaran? Both FG and FF know the electorate will vote for them time after time. One party spends 5 years at the trough while the other one waits its turn. Why bother doing anything when you can make lotto levels of money for a few soundbites
Hardly out of politicial nappys and already knows how to get the media’s attention. Gangland another imagery term used to grasp people’s attention. Could he point out gangland on a map because its disadvantaged communities that are suffering because of lack of investment. No mention of the 300 people on trolleys waiting in hospitals for medicinal attention instead a watered down misuse of drugs bill is introduced in two parts with the second part forgotten about when Autumn comes around. The face of the minister changes but the HSE never will. All FG politicians do is lie, waste resources and protect party donors. There are single cell organism crawling on the bottom of the Shannon that are of more value than these vulture fund lovers.
Fix your department first before sorting out the gangland mess.
doubt the ‘droughts’ last that long
It’s hard to believe that that kid is the Minister for Health – surely, there must be some mistake!
Seems the people in power to do anything about it are on these with no thinking outside the box whatsoever.
Ah yeah that makes sense…….
Not to mention nurses will have to count every one of these tablets between shirts now
So desperately sad that this is all he has to worry him.
Headline should read “minister gives exclusive rights to gangsters for whatever the drug use called”
I wonder what Tommy thinks of this story.no doubt he will blame the ira for this
Ok what does this mean if this gets passed? Can I still go to my GP to get a prescription for Zopiclone? I’m really worried here. I only use 3.75mg some nights to help with insomnia. Will I have to turn to junkies to buy them now?
You’ll be questioned up the ying yang at the chemist for a start if you go to a new one. If it’s a repeat prescription it could mean having to actually meet the doctor each time a script is needed depending on your circumstances/doctor. It won’t really bother the junkies it’ll just add another layer of bureaucracy for everyone else.You’ll still be able to get it, your consumption will just be monitored more closely.
What a stupid move by a thick minester handing the gangs another product to profit from and kill for
Like that’s going to work.
Clueless.
The war on drugs is now won
A zimmo a day keeps the junkie at away.
Reported to the Journal…..
have your say