Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The only point I will make in response is that if we reduce this situation to a resource-only one, then I do not think we are likely to be successful. We must show that we are successful in and capable of dealing with this issue. We must show results from what has happened in the past and how effective we are in dealing with this issue. I am not a supporter of allowing a certain level of drug use for personal reasons. Drugs are a blight on our communities. We must convince ourselves, for a start, that our approach is working or determine that it is not working in the context of when we are going to solve this problem or if we are ever going to solve it. Alternatively, are we going to say it is necessary to accept a certain level of drug abuse. That would mean that we would have to accept a certain level of abuse in the home, abuse of children and abuse of everybody involved and associated. I refer as well to all the social issues entailed in that regard. If we are forced to accept a certain level of abuse in any one of those areas, then we have lost the battle.