Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 is very important and one with which I fully agree. The amendment has a number of primary aims, including preventing the misuse of certain dangerous or harmful drugs and helping law enforcement authorities deal more effectively with trade in certain substances. The misuse of drugs, in particular prescription drugs, is a major issue in society today. In large urban centres such as Dundalk and Drogheda, the problem is becoming more evident. I am of the opinion that the misuse of drugs legislation is an important element in the Government's fight against drug dealing and trafficking and the gangland crimes that occur.

Some of the issues raised in regard to tackling drug crimes include the fact that drug dealers carry small quantities of drugs when on the streets, which can make it more difficult for gardaí to charge a person with the sale or supply of drugs. This Bill will enable the possession of controlled medicines to be made an offence for those in possession of drugs illegally but will not affect either those who have a prescription for drugs or health care professionals.

In addition to controlling a number of prescription drugs, the Bill will also control a number of substances which the European Union has identified as being harmful and open to abuse. I am glad that the Bill includes the drug N-bomb which, as we know, was responsible for a tragic incident in Cork last year where one person died and five others required hospital attention.

Drug related deaths are also a cause of concern for me. In 2012`, there were 189 reported deaths related to drugs, and this figure rose to 219 in 2014. I am deeply concerned about the rise in drug related deaths and we need to do more in this regard. Proper education at a young age on the effects of drugs is vital if we are to combat this problem. We need to be more proactive in educating the younger generation on the effects of taking illegal drugs. Drug-taking not only affects the user but also his or her family and friends.

It is the families and friends of drug users who have to pick up the pieces and get the person back on the straight and narrow. A major cause of concern for parents of teenagers in Dundalk was the fact that drug dealers were targeting students outside local secondary schools.

I received many calls from concerned parents about the practice. They told me there were young men outside schools, who had no attachment to the schools, who were attempting to sell drugs to the students as they left the school. That is a particularly nasty practice which targeted vulnerable young teenagers. Great credit must go to Sergeant Eugene Collins from the Dundalk community policing unit who targeted the activity. With the increased resources given in the last year to the Garda in Dundalk, gardaí were able actively to patrol the areas around the schools at certain times of the day. Initially, they targeted two schools in the town which resulted in an immediate decrease in the activity of the drug dealers. I thank Eugene Collins and his team in Dundalk for taking the initiative in that way to take on the drug dealers proactively. It was a great relief to parents and the schools to see the initiative being undertaken.

I firmly believe that we must educate the younger generation on the effects of drug taking. I suggest the process must start in primary school. We must make children aware that drugs are simply not cool. They must be educated on the dangers of drugs. They must realise the serious harm and long-lasting effects of drug taking. We must help those who are responsible for educating young children by providing increased resources to warn about the dangers of drug taking.

I welcome the fact the Minister recently announced a new action-based national drugs strategy which will be published later this year. I urge him to include an education programme as part of the strategy, aimed at primary schoolchildren and students in secondary schools, to outline the danger of drug taking.

I welcome the Bill. Its primary aims will prevent the misuse of certain dangerous or harmful drugs and also assist the Garda to deal more effectively with drug dealers. In conjunction with that, I urge the Minister to work closely with his ministerial colleagues in other Departments, especially the Department of Education and Skills, to develop a programme to outline the grave dangers of the use of drugs. I passionately believe that if we can convince the younger generation of the real dangers of drugs in society then we will go a long way towards reducing the number of people, particularly young people, who misuse drugs. Go raibh maith agat.

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