Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I am being mischievous. Five years ago the Government, with support from other parties, supported the establishment of drugs task forces in Dublin, Cork and other urban areas. The then Minister of State, Chris Flood, was solely responsible for the issue of drugs during the lifetime of the previous Government. The current Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, and colleagues from two other Departments are now responsible for the issue, which is not good enough. There is growing evidence of crack cocaine on the streets of Dublin and the supply of drugs in this city is as bad as ever. I have spoken to many voluntary drugs treatment organisations in the capital and have been informed that there have been significant cutbacks in the level of funding they can obtain from their task forces. Will the Leader permit a full debate on drugs policy in the next week or two? Such a debate could include the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is only right that we should review the progress – or lack of it – in recent years.

Does the Government have any proposals to introduce a consolidated Bill in respect of the declarations Members of the Oireachtas make to the Public Offices Commission? If one is a member of a local authority and a Member of this House, one must make four returns – two to the local authority and two to the Public Offices Commission. This is ludicrous. There should be one return and one consolidated Bill should suffice.