Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am delighted the steering group met on 10 January. It is important that the strategy is devised as quickly as possible. When does the Minister of State intend to publish the strategy? Has the Minister of State had meetings, separately, with the Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Education and Science and Health and Children concerning the drugs strategy? If the Minister of State cannot answer my next question today, I ask him to write to me with the information I seek. What happens to drugs that are seized in this country? People are worried that some of these drugs, for whatever reason, may end up on the streets again. What happens to the drugs? Are they disposed of and who witnesses that disposal? I ask the Minister of State to inform me, the House and many people who are concerned about this matter. There is an enormous amount of drugs in this country, which is creating major problems. I wish to know how seized drugs are disposed of, by whom is such disposal witnessed and what is the usual process.

See this speech in context