Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

It is fair to state that the Taoiseach appointed three Ministers of State more than he stated were required, but he still left some very important areas uncovered. After very negative feedback, he agreed to extend two remits to include older people and drugs policy. In an honest bona fide way, I wish to put to the Taoiseach that there is concern about the apportionment of ministerial responsibility in the drugs area. It has been separated from responsibility for community development for the first time in 16 years. It is accepted that dealing with the drugs issue should be in the context of a community-wide response. Will the Taoiseach commit to revisiting how the drugs policy is handled and give it to a Minister of State as a full responsibility together with community development?

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