Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Quinn's call for a debate on the issue of random drug testing in schools. Drug abuse in schools is quite a serious issue according to all reliable sources. I am aware, as others are, that both at primary and secondary level teaching staff have had ongoing discussions on formulating policy to deal with this issue and they are reporting back to the Minister. I understand that most of these reports should be on the Minister's desk by now. It would be an appropriate time for us to have a debate so we can ask the Minister to account for what has been happening in the debates in staff rooms throughout the country and to indicate what proposals he has to enable teachers to move forward in dealing effectively with this issue.