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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.
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Shocker beauty pageant contestant wants world peace!
She’s a supporter of Falun Gong. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong supporters have been killed since the nineties. Many have even had their organs taken for transplant, some have even been required to become living organ donors. The whole situation is appalling. Anyone who can publicise this or embarrass the Chinese government into stopping this oppression deserves some respect.
If Miss World Pageant means what they say, they should move the event to another country which is not China and publicly condemn China’s attitude. This is their golden chance to put their money where their mouth is and prove that Miss World is not about the stereotype of some brainless bimbo saying that she wants world peace.
Women have far to much to say nowadays
Very chauvinistic statement about the weaker sex Jiminy.
We should definitely start lecturing China on human. They need to become as peaceful stable as Europe
In fairness though, picking on a member of the Falun Gong movement is like picking on a Hari Krishna. As far a spiritual practices go it’s fairly harmless. The Chinese government dislike it purely because it offers “enlightenment” through oneself and not as part of a , government controlled, collective. They’re OK with religions that have a centralized power as it’s easy to influence a small few leaders and let their influence trickle down. The more complex the belief system the better. It’s almost impossible to influence individuals practicing very simple beliefs.
Ms World candidate? I hope she has a great personality
She should say me so sowwy.
Fail.
W.O.C Oh you such a eejit, ohh you fail, you fail big time.
People still say fail? Ha gay.
Ha people still say gay? FAIL
I’m confused, why does she need a visa in the first place if she’s from China?
She moved to Canada when she was 13. If she acquired Canadian citizenship then according to Chinese government rules, she automatically forfeits her Chinese citizenship.
It’s not automatic. If you are entitled to another citizenship you can choose when you turn 18. Like a lot of Asian countries, China doesn’t allow dual citizenship.
Organisers don’t have the balls to pull out of China. Disgraceful that they will consider it even with this kind of intimidation going on.
Hen piaoliang de guniang.
Vive le Canada
Hai xing :/
She can stay with me if she can’t get back in
have your say