Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)

I am disappointed that just one third of my original question has been answered. I spoke to the Minister about it, but I want to raise it now with the Ceann Comhairle. I am very annoyed. The question I originally tabled was "to ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the alternatives to methadone treatment that exist for heroin misusers; the structures in place to allow them to become drug free; the progress made in relation to the new rehabilitation tier of the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter". I have received an answer to the third part of that question, but the first two parts of the question were the most important and I want answers to them. I will write to the Ceann Comhairle about the matter.

As the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, is in charge of the drugs strategy, he is responsible for answering questions about alternatives to methadone. If I am lucky, I will get an answer to the final two parts of my question from the HSE by Christmas, although it is more likely to be Christmas of next year. I would like a proper discussion about new drugs and other developments in this area, but that is not possible because someone in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs decided that it was a matter for someone other than the Minister of State. That is what is wrong with this country's approach to the drugs problem — nobody wants to take responsibility for tackling it. I told the Minister of State previously that while I accept he has an interest in this area, I do not feel the Government is really committed to solving the problem. If it was committed to dealing with this matter, I would not have received a letter telling me that my question had to be chopped in three and referred to other Departments.

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