THE Government will publish a Bill designed to end the sale of illegal drugs in pubs, dance halls and at so-called rave parties in the next few days.
The Licensing (Combating Drug Abuse) Bill will give gardai, new powers to tackle such drug dealing and introduce heavy penalties for those allowing or tolerating the sale of drugs on their premises. The Cabinet approved the text of the Bill.
Announcing the decision, the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, said the Government was "determined that we use every means at our disposal to take on this evil trade which has destroyed so many lives and threatens to destroy others".