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

I am pleased the draft EU drugs strategy will be part of the plans. Will the Minister give us a timescale for it? Will it be finalised during this Presidency or will it go into the Irish Presidency? Will the Irish Presidency have to lead on the drugs action plan which will follow?

The issue of the right to be forgotten, which is linked to what Deputy Corcoran Kennedy stated, is being discussed at EU level. Quite often people put information on the Internet when they are quite young and regret it afterwards. I know this issue is also being discussed with the United States. Will it be agreed and introduced? It would mean one could ask for one's information to be removed from the web.

I noticed much of the Minister's presentation had to do with asylum, and the issue of forced labour in the European Union is something about which we are concerned. We had a very interesting debate last year on missing persons and I know the Minister was interested in it at the time, as was the Taoiseach. Is there any possibility we might see something happening at European level with regard to missing persons?

The committee visited the naval base in Cork recently and we were very impressed with what we saw. The innovation and research being undertaken there is significant and important. The Minister mentioned consideration is being given to sending one of our ships to the waters off Somalia to assist in the very important and successful work being done there. I would support this. It would be important for us to play our part there as much of our trade comes through that part of the world. Even for a short period, if we can at all, we should have one of our ships out there. The Naval Service is more than capable of playing its part and it is very important that it does so.

Last week the Garda Commissioner came before the committee and he spoke about 25 criminal gangs operating in the State with international links. I am pleased the issue of terrorism and the fight against organised crime will be part of the Presidency.