Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her contribution. I like to think the north inner city task force that will be put together will be different in the sense that I would like to see it modelled on what the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, brought forward formerly in the creation of jobs, where there was a timeline, it was action-proofed and responsible. In so far as my Department is concerned, we will be very happy to work with it.

The Minister for Health explained yesterday that he hoped to be in a position, before the House rose for the summer recess, to bring legislation to the House dealing with prescriptive drugs, a matter mentioned by Deputy Róisín Shortall on a number of occasions and others. Before the end of the year we will have a national drugs strategy, with which the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, will deal, in conjunction with other Departments.

The points raised by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan are real and part of an agenda of opportunity for communities, but it is our job to make it happen. I hope to engage with the Deputy and others, including members of the Government with their different responsibilities, to address the need for joined-up thinking and to show that, where the Government applies itself with resources, it can make a difference to the lives of people.

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