David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Fr. McVerry indicated that some 80% of prisoners have drug addiction problems. The rise in drug use in society generally seems to be paralleled in increased rates of criminality and incarceration. In recent years we have seen the proliferation of many different types of drugs, both legal and illegal. We had a very good debate on this issue in the Dáil recently. I am concerned that we are attempting to treat drug addiction and misuse in silos - education, health and so on - without any overarching approach. Will Fr. McVerry comment on the impact of increased drug misuse on criminality, incarceration, penal policy and so on?