Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)

The pilot project to tackle the cocaine programme is massive and in his own words the Minister of State says: "I am confident that through the implementation of the actions in the National Drugs Strategy the problem of cocaine use can be and is being addressed." The reality is far from that. There is a massive cocaine problem. It runs to billions of euro and the Minister of State is quoted as saying €200 million is being spent in tackling it. Some €200 million in profits are being made every weekend in the sale of drugs. If we want to tackle the problem, real money must be spent on real resources or we will not win the war on drugs. This Government has to declare war on drugs once and for all. The current position cannot continue.

The Minister of State mentions people on treatment and quotes the study which shows great results for people who are getting treatment, and how beneficial it is. Yet only half of heroin users are on methadone and more than half cannot get treatment. Only a few hundred beds are available to get people fully off drugs.

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