Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

There is a large amount of drugs coming in. That is a fact and we should do whatever we need to do to help the Garda. It has put a number of special units on this issue and is engaging in a fairly large undercover activity to try to bring to justice those involved in the trade. It is using large numbers of units, not only in city areas but around the country. It is well known because it has been in the media, but gardaí posing as buyers are being used to identify and prosecute suppliers, which is something the Garda used not do. It is going after smaller individuals, as Garda activity is not confined to those who supply drugs, and thousands of people have been successfully prosecuted for simple possession, which is equally important. The new Commissioner has made clear that the Garda's priority is to give to the drugs problem, which he is reviewing with his people on the ground, all of the strategies it can and to do whatever it must on the ground. It will use Garda divisions, special units and CAB. If it is a question of resources, the Government must deal with it.

To state the obvious, this is a hugely lucrative business for the underworld because of the volume of trade. It has a sophisticated network across the world and is making large sums of money. This does not apply to every pusher, but it does to the ring leaders and criminal elements at the top, which makes it attractive. They have sophisticated intelligence and operate in every country, making it more difficult to seize them. They do not use very simple methods, which is one of the challenges for the Garda. At European level, we co-operate fully with Interpol, Eurojust and the other systems and must continue to do so.

With the focus of public opinion on the issue, it is time for the Garda to step up its activity. The Government will do whatever it must do if more legislation or resources are needed. We have introduced a huge number of Bills in the past few years, but if there are other issues, we will do whatever we must. We have given the Garda very large resources in terms of manpower, overtime and so on to deal with this issue.

We must look to the enforcement of the measures and maybe be more harsh on those businesses and so on that tolerate drugs in any way. This is not something one would ever want to do lightly, but everyone must play his or her part in trying to at least curb those activities. I did not outline all the remedial measures but I am aware that those involved in them are trying to help others in society. Whenever we speak about this issue, we do not always mention the victims but I take it as read that all the measures the Minister of State, Deputy Carey, his colleagues in the national drugs task force and others are bringing forward which are aimed at trying to assist victims should be implemented. I do not want to leave them out because some believe we look at only one side of the issue.

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