Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

The two key words associated with drug use are "supply" and "demand". As regards the former, the Garda, Army and Naval Service are to be complimented on their detection successes which have put drug barons under pressure. However, the Government's failure to decrease the level of demand for drugs is unacceptable and requires urgent action. I recall Deputies lauding the efforts of the Irish Examiner for highlighting the problem of drug use. The Government did not follow up on the newspaper's endeavours.

What will the Minister of State do to try to provide alternatives to drug use? His senior Minister admitted to me on a previous occasion that we must try to find alternatives to drug use. I am not aware of any action by the Department or the Minster of State, who I accept was appointed to office only recently, to provide alternatives.

In February 2008, a national public awareness campaign was launched entitled, The Party's Over. The figures before us do not suggest the party is over. The Minister of State must take action. What does he propose to do?

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