Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

The scourge of drug-taking and trafficking is one of the major concerns of Irish people. It is also a real threat to the security and health of the nation. The use of drugs, particularly by young people, is at historically high levels. At one time those of us who live in rural Ireland might have considered the drugs problem to be an urban one. If that was ever true it is no longer so.

Drugs are available in every county, village and town. Nowhere and nobody is safe or off-limits. Individuals, families and whole communities suffer utter devastation. This was highlighted earlier by Deputy Ó Snodaigh's riveting contribution. I support particularly the sections of this motion that call for close co-operation between communities, civil society and all other actors and agencies involved, the Health Service Executive, the Garda, the customs and excise officers, the medical and educational services and others. This is a societal issue and solutions are to be found at societal level.

This is also a global problem. Solutions must be found at regional, national, EU and international level. Finding a realistic and effective response to this global problem must be a political priority for all countries. At European level we have adopted an EU drugs action plan that respects the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, and leaves full scope for local, regional, national and transnational actions. This plan also encourages all actors to examine how these actions can be mutually supportive and contribute to achieving the objectives of an EU drugs strategy.

Co-ordination is crucial to the success of this strategy and at EU level we need to step up and develop law enforcement co-operation between member states and, where appropriate, with Europol, against international organised drug production and trafficking. Joint customs operations, investigations and intelligence gathering and strengthening controls at external borders of the European Union to stem the flow of drugs, play a crucial role in the war against drugs.

Global action complements national and local action and at national level education plays an important role. Having been a teacher for most of my life I know that sometimes society has unrealistic expectations of what schools and education systems can deliver, as if schools, often with limited or no resources, can solve all the ills of society. Schools do not exist in a vacuum and the influence of family, community and media impact on what schools can achieve. Adequately resourced, school-based prevention programmes can and do deliver. We cannot do this on a wing and a prayer and expect teachers to save us from ourselves. Regardless of their good work, schools are only part of our response. We need to set up, develop and improve selective prevention for target groups, and new ways of reaching target groups by using different media and new information technologies.

Drug-driving does not receive adequate consideration. There have been several campaigns against drink-driving which have had some success. We must also target drug-driving. Illicit prescribed and unprescribed drugs affect people's ability to drive and contribute to accidents and fatalities.

I commend this motion to the House.

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