Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

There are no votes in the drugs strategy and it is not a major political issue. Would we not be better off with one Minister who deals with the areas of health, education and justice? The Department of Education and Science deals with one aspect, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform deals with another part of it, while the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs deals with another part. Would it not be possible to introduce one agency to deal with all? If the Minister of State were such a Minister, he would not allow the abolition of the school completion programme, which is important.

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