Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The Tánaiste says this is the best way forward and, obviously, we think otherwise. Other countries are realising criminalisation of a lot of things does not work. The so-called "war on drugs" has been an abysmal failure. The points raised in the amendments address the core of the problems better.

Rather than hitting people with sledges or putting them in prison, it would be far more fruitful in time to examine from where the problem is coming and deal with the social issues behind it. In her defence the Minister said she did not have an economy to do everything that could have been done during the past six years, but we will not get into that debate today. When austerity measures wer used to help to deal with the banking collapse - it cost the State a fortune - choices were made. It was not the case that there were no choices.