Harney to outlaw popular party pill.

The Department of Health has confirmed it is awaiting legal advice on the drafting of legislation to outlaw the herbal ecstasy drug.

However, a spokesman for Health Minister Mary Harney predicted that the ban would come into effect before March next year.

When enacted it will be a criminal offence to buy the "legal high", which works on the central nervous system and is banned in seven EU states.

The move comes just months after Ms Harney ruled out the prospect of any such ban in Ireland, despite mounting concern over the drug's side-effects.

Psychosis

Anti-drugs campaigners have pointed out it can cause anxiety, delusion, hallucination, paranoia, psychosis, liver failure and seizures.

However, it is very popular on the Irish dance scene for the euphoria it can induce.

Users can buy it in health-food stores or from various websites where it is sometimes marketed as 'legal ecstasy', but is also known as A2, Frenzy and Nemesis.

The extent of its widespread use was revealed last year when an Irish greyhound was found with traces of the drug in its system.

The incident marked the first time an animal was found with BZP anywhere since the substance was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited substances.

Department of Health officials were prompted to take action in the wake of a decision by the European Council to place the drug under control in accordance with the 1971 UN Convention of Psychotropic Substances.

The council insists member states must act as soon as possible, but no later than one year from the date of the decision, to introduce measures to control the drug and apply criminal sanctions. This gives Ireland a deadline of March 2009.

Source: Patricia McDonagh, The Irish Independent, 28/10/2008