Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The reality is that prevention is always better than cure. In August 2023 it was announced that we would remove the drug squads and community policing. That was very serious. It is a pity the Minister did not make the statement he made a minute ago back then. We do not have a reinstated community policing unit in Wexford. However, I can read out millions of euro worth of drug seizures in Rosslare and off our coast. Last October, drugs worth €157 million were seized on the MV Matthew. There needs to be prevention of the drugs getting into the system. Use our Naval Service. We are badly resourcing it, but we still have €500 million worth of ships sitting on a quay wall with no personnel to man them. Why can we not join the dots? We are an island. The drugs have to come onto the island. I did not need a lesson from the Minister in what drugs are being used. It is the effects and the antisocial behaviour of not being able to police it.

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