The Dáil will debate later today whether to make spiking its own specific standalone offence.
If the bill is passed, it would mean the offence would carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
A bill on spiking was first brought forward 3 years ago, however it was never properly debated up until now.
Fine Gael, MEP Regina Doherty says the legislation became revitalised because a petition was signed by Electric Picnic attendees:
"It's 3 years since we've passed this Bill in the Seanad, it's been sitting on a shelf ever since.
Mary Crilly and Dola Twomey went to Electric Picnic this year and got thousands of signatures which kind've revitalised it."
Currently, there is no straight path to prosecute people who spike, according to Doherty:
"The only way to prosecute it at the moment is through a very old out-dated full of ambiguity law around poisoning."
The definition of spiking (if passed)
A person who commits an offence if he or she intentionally administers a substance to, by whatever means injects a substance into or otherwise causes a substance to be taken orally by another person knowing that the other person does not consent, or being reckless as to whether or not the other person consents.
Toxicology pathways for victims of this offence (if passed)
The Minister shall arrange for members of An Garda Síochána to establish toxicology testing pathways for persons under section 2 of this Act at a Garda station or clinical setting.
The debate is due to get underway later this afternoon.
