Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and his team for coming in here today. I listened to the engagement Senator Ruane had with the Minister of State. There is much on both sides that people have to listen to.

My line of questioning today was going to highlight a report that was done by the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality when I was a member of that committee. Unfortunately, much of society and many countries still see the problem with drugs as being justice-led whereas in actual fact, it needs to be health-led. I believe we are slowly but surely moving in that direction in this country.

When Deputy Stanton was Chairman of the justice committee, we went to Portugal and looked at what was being done. We engaged with various stakeholders there and learned that there had been a significant reduction in the amount of drug abuse and drug use in Portugal because it was decriminalised. There is a significant difference between legalising it and decriminalising the use of it. That is a very important point. It is a difficult discussion and there are elements within society that are totally against this discussion. I believe it is a discussion that must continue and evolve, however.

I also believe that slowly but surely, the whole issue of addiction is now coming under the realms of health. We are here today discussing this issue at the Joint Committee on Health. It is absolutely appropriate that it should be discussed at the health committee as opposed to the justice committee. I do not believe anybody on this committee wants to see somebody who has addiction problems ending up in Mountjoy or Limerick Prison because of his or her addiction.

Absolutely, we have a major job of work to do as a society in terms of the circumstances that lead people to addiction. There is unbelievable poverty in this country. There are areas of this country, whether it is urban or rural, where the level of poverty is absolutely appalling. It is an absolute shame on our society that successive Governments for decades have allowed that type of poverty to exist, continue and, if one likes, evolve and get worse. Until such time as we deal with the environments in which these young people and their families find themselves in the first place and ensure that people who go to school have access to proper equality and respect, we will have these problems. Whether it is cocaine, cannabis or whatever, there are people out there who will peddle these substances on vulnerable people.

I have a major issue with the professional classes. I refer to people who had the opportunities and benefitted from education in this country who are going out at weekends to nightclubs and house parties and so on and taking cocaine. They have the knowledge and benefit of everything that is good that our society, their families and our communities have offered and yet they are operating on and taking recreational drugs. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of young professional people who have had every advantage are doing it. These are the people who are supporting drug barons like the Kinahans of this world, who are bringing in drugs and making tens and hundreds of millions out of it.

What are we going to do in terms of educating or at least using the education system to educate these people whose actions are resulting in organised crime and criminality? They are supporting an underworld that most of them would criticise and work against in their day jobs.

I was engaged at one stage with a group in Blanchardstown called Think Before You Buy. We had meetings with the Garda Commissioner and previous Ministers and so on in terms of funding a campaign. It encouraged people to think before they buy and use drugs on a recreational basis and of the consequences of what happens.

I also wish to ask the Minister of State about the HSE drugs and alcohol helpline and the funding that is being given to that. I believe that is money very well spent. What are the plans for developing that helpline? What is the breakdown in terms of people who have suffered from alcohol abuse and drug use? Is it 50-50? Are more people calling the helpline who suffer from drug addiction as opposed to alcohol addiction?