Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

They are doing an excellent job but they only have one boat to cover the entire coastline. That is not acceptable and it is time the Minister of State's Department and the Departments of Defence and Justice, Equality and Law Reform got together. For example, the number of gardaí in the Garda national drugs unit has been reduced. We must be serious about finding drugs and ensuring narcotics do not enter the State. We must secure the regional airports and the coastline as we cannot let these drugs into the country to destroy our communities and the youth. They are being sold openly in this country having been brought from mainland England and elsewhere.

The Government must put more resources into Customs and Excise and the Departments of Defence and Justice, Equality and Law Reform in order to man our coastlines. Criminals are bringing drugs in because they are sophisticated. They have boats and when the drugs are landed, the criminals can locate them. The State must get resources as well.

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