Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The tragic events in recent weeks have once again demonstrated the dangers associated with drug misuse in a stark and public way. The problem is a complex and difficult one for which there is no quick fix or easy solution. The changing nature of drug use, specifically the emergence of cocaine and polydrug use in recent years, presents significant challenges for everyone involved in trying to tackle the problem. We will continue to facilitate and support agreed international responses to the issue while pursuing our own goals through the policy framework of the national drugs strategy.

I acknowledge the considerable contribution made by my constituency colleague, Deputy Rabbitte, while he was a Minister of State through his work with the ministerial task force on measures to reduce the demand for drugs, which laid the foundation for the development of our current strategy. As the House will appreciate, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, under the stewardship of the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, is the lead Department in co-ordinating the implementation of the strategy. The process of drawing up a new strategy to which my Department and the Garda will contribute fully is under way.

One of the Garda's primary functions is to reduce the supply of illegal drugs of all kinds. While much of the public attention in recent days has naturally centred on cocaine, the Garda must tackle illegal drugs of all kinds. The value of drugs seized demonstrates how active the Garda is in this regard. The most recent figures for this year show that more than €22 million worth of heroin, approximately €13 million worth of cannabis and nearly €3 million worth of ecstasy tablets have been seized. Including the cocaine at Dunlough Bay in Cork last July, more than €117 million worth of cocaine has been seized this year. While it may be argued that the find in Cork was to some extent fortuitous, nevertheless a substantial Garda operation was initiated to bring those involved to justice. These drugs seizures are evidence of the scale of the drug problem, but they are also an indication of the amount of work being done to try to reduce the supply of drugs.

Under the national strategy, the Garda Síochána will continue to pursue its strategies to restrict the supply of all illegal drugs in this jurisdiction vigorously. The Garda National Drugs Unit will continue to co-ordinate large-scale operations against drug dealing or trafficking, with unit personnel investigating cases and assisting local investigation teams as appropriate. Additional assistance will continue to be made available from other specialised Garda support units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau. The new Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, has made clear the priority the Garda gives to the drugs problem and he is reviewing with his people on the ground their strategies for addressing this issue.

Of particular relevance in tackling the supply of cocaine to this jurisdiction is the recent establishment of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre in Lisbon. This centre, of which Ireland is a founding member, will focus on exchanging intelligence leading to the detection of large maritime and aviation drug shipments. It will focus particularly on the trafficking of cocaine from South and Latin America.

The Government will continue to ensure that the Garda has sufficient resources to tackle the problem and the policing priorities for the Garda Síochána, which the Minister set recently under the Garda Síochána Act, reflect the urgency with which the Government continues to regard the issue of drug trafficking.

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These priorities refer to specific enhanced activity by the force and the Garda National Drugs Unit in particular in places where the presence of drug dealing and the use of illicit drugs is likely. Of its nature, this would include particular pubs and clubs. The Garda has been targeting places of this kind and intends to intensify that activity. The Garda engages in undercover activity to try to bring those involved in the drugs trade to justice.

It is also important to acknowledge that the Garda needs co-operation from all sections of society in trying to tackle this problem. Anyone who has information about those supplying drugs, however small the scale, should give it to the Garda. The policing priorities refer to enhanced liaison arrangements between the Garda divisions and the Criminal Assets Bureau so that those engaging in drug dealing at all levels can be pursued. Profilers trained by CAB are now present in each division.

Deputies will agree that, while the State has clear responsibilities in these matters, the fact is that all citizens have choices to make and responsibilities to uphold with regard to drug use. With the attention of public opinion focused on this issue now more than ever, there is a particular onus on us all not to tolerate or accept any level of drug use in our society.

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