Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not agree with Deputy Ó Caoláin. There is no question of downgrading the importance of dealing with the drugs issue. The Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Curran, continues to have that responsibility and has shown a strong commitment to the area and knowledge of it. He is trying to ensure that money gets to those who require services and he does so in a far tighter budgetary situation than in the past.

I do not agree with the Deputy's contention that the reorganisation of the responsibilities of Ministers of State was done with the intention of relegating the importance of the issue. The Deputy who had this responsibility before the changes retains it because he has my full confidence with regard to it. An interaction with him at Question Time and on other occasions will allow Deputy Ó Caoláin to dialogue with him on policy objectives and how he intends to implement them.

See this speech in context