Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The country is now aware of the extent of the epidemic of cocaine and its consequences for young people. At this moment, several young people are literally fighting for their lives. The tragedy and consequences inflicted on families have been visibly evident in recent days. Garda sources say publicly that incidents such as the collapse of the two men in Longford and Westmeath are daily occurrences. Also, in some hospitals, even in fairly rural areas, between five and six people are admitted for cocaine complications every weekend. In Dublin over the past weekend, a number of people were taken to Tallaght Hospital after taking drugs and hospital staff say they see it all the time now.

RTE deserves some compliments on how it went about the business of producing last night's "Prime Time" programme, which exposed the scale of the vicious underbelly of Irish society, where those who peddle, deal in and buy drugs are involved in the current epidemic in our country. When we consider that the majority of the 269 toilets investigated and analysed showed traces of cocaine use, this demonstrates the extent of what is involved. To date, the Government has put forward a Minister of State with responsibility for drugs strategy, Deputy Pat Carey. He is a decent man and his heart is in the right place, but he has not been given Cabinet clout to deal with the issue head on.

In previous years we had Operation Shannon, which dealt with people crossing the Shannon to raid rural houses, and Operation Anvil, which was set up to deal with gangland killings. Is it not time to have a Cabinet-led initiative to deal with drug dealing, drug barons and drug pimps, in all their forms, including those who use cocaine? Some people seem to think they are immune from the law. Unless the issue is tackled head on, it will continue to have the most serious consequences for people all over the country.

The Taoiseach said on 13 February that this was not a cause for serious concern and that he did not believe drugs were available in every town and parish in the country. Has he changed his mind now on the basis of the evidence produced on the "Prime Time Investigates" programme, which showed the blatant and public sale of cocaine at high profile locations, such as Croke Park, the Galway races, the horse show and elsewhere? People turn a blind eye to such behaviour as if it were socially respectable and acceptable. Can I take it that the Taoiseach, as Head of Government, will build on the platform put in place by the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, by leading a Cabinet initiative on this matter? People will continue to take cocaine and other drugs until they realise the Government is serious about dealing with the drug epidemic throughout the country. What is the Government's response to the exposure by "Prime Time Investigates" of the scale of what is going on?

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