Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)

That is not true. The Acting Chairman should not worry about that.

I welcome the Minister of State's increased funding, but can he not encourage colleagues across all Departments to realise that they must reflect on our problems with drugs? Every Minister should admit that we have such a problem and commit the Government to tackling it. Community gardaí are a major feature of the drugs strategy, but it has been a total failure. There are now fewer people in the Garda drugs squad than ten years ago. It is not simply a matter for the Minister of State's Department but for all Departments. The matter is not being tackled, and that is why I argue that the drugs strategy is failing.

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