Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I have met the main organisations, including the three large sporting organisations who are aware of their responsibilities and are implementing good programmes. Only two days after my appointment, I was invited to Croke Park to see what the GAA is doing with the HSE. I met on that occasion with representatives of the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Rugby Football Union and have since met a range of smaller organisations the length and breadth of the country, of which there are 24,000. They are in their own way making a difference and are conscious of the need for concerted action. For this reason, I am anxious that we complete what I started when last in the Department, namely, a single strategy for alcohol and substance misuse which is currently at final drafting stage. I hope to be in a position to bring it to Government before the end of this year, following which it will be rolled out.

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