Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I agree with the Minister of State that Ireland has had a bad time in terms of the use of cocaine and other illegal drugs, which has brought forward the stark reality of the Ireland of 2007.

Regarding the reduction of supply, it was revealed this week that customs officials charged with responsibility for coastline protection have one X-ray scanner for the entire country. The scanner is useful in detecting illegal drugs, particularly cocaine, along our coastline but if it is being used in Rosslare, the thousands of miles outside Rosslare are free. Criminals know when the scanner is located in a particular place. It is nothing short of a disgrace that an island nation has only one scanner. What steps does the Government propose to take to increase the number of such machines?

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