Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In relation to the previous question, what I was talking about is the worst of circumstances, really chaotic circumstances where the council is probably looking at nuclear options. The fact is that we do not necessarily have all of the resources required to deal with what are very complex cases. I am also talking about circumstances that have reached the level of chaotic criminality and whatever the fears are in relation to those kids, this is having a detrimental impact on the wider community. We need better processes for dealing with such circumstances.

Regarding the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use, we are very glad it happened and welcome its final report. We have been over and back in this House in relation to the failure of the war on drugs. We all know the reality we are dealing with, particularly in disadvantaged areas that are under the cosh of criminal gangs and drug-debt intimidation. We all know that an awful lot of this is fed by those who have resources and are out on Friday and Saturday nights taking cocaine. We have to deal with the realities of the world we are in and we need to do something better than what we have been doing to date. I accept that we must measure what we do vis-à-visother states but we must make sure there is no hold-up. I ask the Taoiseach to give us an indication of the timeline for getting the committee up and running and getting from there to action and legislation.

See this speech in context