Mr. Tony Howard:

Many thousands of miles away in Afghanistan, farmers are growing the opium poppy. Arising from that, people here in Dublin are injecting heroin. In between the two points, organised crime is involved in importing heroin into Ireland. Both assistant commissioners were correct when they pointed out that the national drugs strategy is the framework we use to inform Garda policy on how we tackle drug dealing and anything touching of the subject, including drug-related intimidation which, for me, is a particular scourge. It is a hidden crime within communities, yet we are aware it causes significant harm. The Garda Síochána is involved in formulating the next national drugs strategy, and I sit on a number of the related committees. It will be a health-led approach to dealing with drug dealing and addiction, not only to drugs but also to alcohol.