Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

That is fair enough. Drugs are a major problem in the country in 2007 and we must accept that it is no longer an issue confined to particular disadvantaged areas. It is now a cross-society issue. It hits every family in the country — working class families, poor families and middle class families. In recent events we also have seen the massive violence and intimidation that goes with the drugs issue.

We must take a broader view when tackling the issue and coming up with solutions to the abuse of drugs. We must include issues such as poverty, educational disadvantage and housing as part of the solution. I welcome the fact that these are included as a sensible part of the solution. I welcome the radical proposals emerging in some areas throughout the city.

I particularly welcome the new Cromcastle plan in my area in Dublin North-Central which will provide new centres, new sports facilities and housing projects around the Northside Shopping Centre. It will develop the Cromcastle area in a positive way. I commend Dublin City Council and all those directly involved in the project. These are issues that I raised in my agreement with the Taoiseach and they are covered in sections 7, 9 and 11 of the agreement. I repeat that the focus must be on educational disadvantage, housing issues, developing communities and tackling poverty.

Since 2007, €7 million was given to 42 projects to assist young people. This is a positive development, particularly the worthwhile projects that are working with young people and with the families of addicts, but we need to ensure this money goes in the right direction and goes deep down to meet the needs of people in the community. Some people working within the community have concerns that sometimes the resources do not necessarily get to the people who need them most. I know this from speaking to parents and families of addicts and also those who have a major contribution to make to the drugs issue.

The solution to this issue lies in communities, in families and in policing. It is important that we focus on these. If there are poor, disadvantaged families and young children at risk, we must intervene at an early age. I welcome the sensible projects being rolled out, particularly across the northside of Dublin, addressing educational disadvantage and assisting these young people, particularly young pupils between the ages of four and six. That is part of the solution and we can save many young people if we deal with issues such as literacy and low self-esteem at an early age. Such issues are important in creating a better person for the future. There are many good sensible projects, but we also need to develop them and ensure they are rolled out.

Quality policing is an important strategy in the campaign. We need community gardaí. We need professionals talking to and reassuring residents, but we also need the super squads in the form of the Garda drug squad directly involved to take out the violent dysfunctional criminals because they are causing havoc.

Let us also accept responsibility. There is a demand in society for drugs. If there was not a demand, there would not be a market. We must face that reality as well. If our neighbours, friends, children's children or somebody in the wider community is contributing to that, it is important we highlight it.

We should re-examine the role of the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB. I commend my colleague, Deputy Gregory, for his magnificent work over the years, particularly in new radical ideas about making CAB relevant to communities but also in his consistent work on drugs issues. I urge people directly involved, particularly Ministers, to listen to individuals like Deputy Gregory who have a massive contribution to make, both at national and community levels. That is accepted on a cross-party basis in this House. If one is talking about a strategy, one must include the views and sensible solutions for the way forward. Deputy Gregory and others like him should be supported.

We should look at the positive ideas coming from all Deputies in this House. I have seen all-party agreement on issues such as Irish emigrants and climate change, and there is no reason we cannot look at the drugs issue in the same light.

Statistics show the level of drug seizures by the Garda and the Customs and Excise have been well in excess of the targets set in the strategy, and I welcome that important development. However, it shows that we have a bigger problem than sometimes people think.

On the violence and intimidation I mentioned, it is appalling that there are young families suffering and the level of violence involved. In my constituency, there was the slaughter of the young mother, Donna Cleary, which was cocaine related. We must accept the reality that this is the downside. As I stated last week in the Dáil although nobody seemed to take any notice, it is not acceptable for smart-alec journalists to state on television that it is all right to take cocaine and drugs. Every day in our clinics in our constituencies we see the reality of drugs and the violence and intimidation. Incidentally, many people who are not involved in politics do not see the reality. Many people come to Deputies, councillors and Senators with significant information on violence and drugs issues in their communities and it is important to take these views on board when dealing with the issue.

I welcome this opportunity to make a contribution to the debate. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Carey, for the work he has done. I urge him to listen to the people directly affected in coming up with solutions because there is a enormous crisis and we need to act now.

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