Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As the person with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, I think your points are extremely valid. There will also be valuable input from the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use which will issue its report to Government and the Oireachtas in the next few weeks. The report contains 36 recommendations. Since I came into this role 11 months ago I have travelled the country meeting people who are involved in drug addiction, service users and front-line staff.

There are numerous sides to this issue. There is the criminality side - the Garda is doing fantastic work on drug seizures. We also have to look at a health-led response. Harm reduction is really important, as is drug treatment, as was said. Just because someone is through a detox programme does not mean that is the end of the journey; it is only the start. We do not want to see a vicious circle of criminality going into the justice system and addiction in the justice system. It is not what people need. They need a health-led response. They also need housing and education supports. Recovery is the best word for that. From my perspective, in talking to people on the front line, we need to make sure the services - which are fantastic - are expanded. I was happy to secure additional funding in this budget for drug addiction and social inclusion.

To answer the question, which is valid, the Garda has a role in this. I will listen to the Garda. This report will go to the Oireachtas and the Government and we will give a comprehensive response to all of the recommendations. This is not the end of the conversation, it is only the start. We need to have an open and honest discussion about drug use in Ireland. Education and prevention are part of that. I secured €1.5 million for that. It is the first time we have had an education and prevention programme for drug use. It is only one part of this whole picture. We must help those who need it but those who commit serious crimes need to be punished. We can tease this out through an Oireachtas committee. That is what I want to do in my role - listen to those on the front line, see how we can best help people and support people coming along the line and listen to An Garda Síochána for its perspective on this matter.