The selling of legal and herbal drugs is a serious threat to the welfare of children the Dublin City Joint Policing Committee said today.
The committee raised concerns to Assistant Garda Commissioner, Michael Feehan, that so called ‘Head Shops’ both glamorise and promote casual drug use.
Head Shops are stores that specialise in selling ‘legal highs’ such as herbal drugs and ‘magic mushrooms’. These shops also sell drug taking paraphernalia such as pipes and bongs.
Dublin South Central TD Aengus O’Snodaigh (Sinn Fein) was concerned that many of these shops have been set up in areas known for drug dealing.
Agreeing with Mr O’Snodaigh Cllr Mannix Flynn (Independent) added that the items on sale in these shops act to attract impressionable youths into such areas.
“The substantial window space and paraphernalia on display can prove a curiosity for kids.” Cllr Flynn added.
He went on to say that while the sale and display of alcohol and pornography are strictly controlled by law Head Shops operate in a legal gray area without proper oversight by the authorities.
Lord Mayor Emer Costello (Labour) said she was greatly concerned by the number of shops that have been set up in the city in the past 10 years.
She suggested that if no national legislation was in place to regulate these establishments than bye-laws would need to be introduced by the City Council.
The Committee’s concerns follow similar objections raised by Kildare Cllr Mark Dalton over the opening of a Head Shop in Athy last week.
Neither Assistant Commissioner Feehan nor Committee Chairman Gerry Breen were aware of the number of Head Shops in the city.
The motion was put forward to the next meeting in late January, to give the committee more time to consult with the Gardai on the issue.
