....Senator Aubrey McCarthy: I commend my colleague Senator Stephenson on her initiative to provide three months' free transport for victims of domestic abuse. I also commend the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Dara Calleary, on co-operating with her on that initiative.

I will mention the matter of public concern, the health concern, that was raised over the weekend regarding synthetic cannabis. A number of psychiatrists from Cork, Dublin and Galway wrote to The Irish Times and they are calling on the Government to act on the continued availability of HHC products, or synthetic cannabinoids, that are designed to mimic the effects of cannabis. Despite HHC being classified as an illegal substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act, the ban definitely is not working. The report they presented shows that in psychiatric wards and in psychosis clinics there is a lot linked to HHC and HHC-like products. The reason is that suppliers have simply changed the man-made cannabinoids to ones with virtually identical properties, which fall outside the specific ban.

The human cost, as I know through people accessing Tiglin services etc., is real. A 2025 study in Galway found HHC was the second most commonly used drug among people presenting to hospital with psychosis over a 21-month period. Psychiatrists are not calling for new legislation; they are just saying we could use the present law in a smarter way.

I ask that the Minister for Health come into the House to address this at the earliest opportunity and outline what steps the Government is taking to tackle what is happening in our accident and emergency, and specifically how that applies to existing psychoactive substances and how the legislation applies to these products. I think it is causing very real harm to younger people.