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

I support the points made by my colleague in regard to the drugs issue. It is a health issue and a justice issue. It has to be approached on two levels and to have all resources made available to deal with it. That needs to be done as a matter of urgency. What we are doing at present is perpetuating it. The drug issue is growing. We are a drug-ridden society, and people will tell you it affects all classes of people throughout the country who did not ordinarily resort to drugs. We must cut off the supply and we have to improve the rehabilitation system in a way that encourages people away from drugs - all drugs, whatever they are.

I have one question. Criticisms have been levelled at health institutions in the past in regard to the degree to which the HSE was remote from the people. From the point of view of practitioners, the regions were remote from the HSE by virtue of their geographic location. I want the Minister and the Minister of State to recognise that and try to deal with it.

We spent a great deal of time in the run-up to the report on the Sláintecare programme in ensuring that there was a return to a feeling among the people in the regions, whether they be GPs or specialists or whatever the case may be, that there would be a return to recognition of their particular position, as opposed to their position be determined by somebody at the HSE, at the central level, telling them what they do. We need to address that and we need to address the drug supply as well.