Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The report makes sad reading in the context of the future of our so-called society. Some eight years ago, I visited Liverpool for a football match. On going to a city centre pub, I was horrified to find there was such an availability of drugs and that this was an acceptable part of the culture. Coming from the west, I genuinely did not believe this culture existed to such an extent and I am saddened that it has finally reached our shores. It has taken root in Dublin and most of the major cities and, unfortunately, is set to take root in every village and townland unless drastic action is taken.

I appreciate the Minister of State has a feeling for the situation and is doing his best with the resources available. I agree with Senator Ó Murchú that we have been in denial for too long. Over the years there was another drug, alcohol. However, while people drank more, they did not misbehave to the same extent. Another sinister element is the extra additives to alcohol. As a result, many young people end up in hospitals and Garda stations and when they get up the next morning they do not know what they have done. We must tackle this culture before it is too late.

The report points out that the use of heroin and cocaine, even crack cocaine, has spread to the regions, which were previously affected by so-called soft drugs such as ecstasy and cannabis. I am pleased such work has gone into compiling the report. It also expressed concern at the link between increasing gun crime and drug gangs. Every weekend, when the gardaí stop cars in rural areas, they seize drugs, amphetamines and so on. More than €100 million worth of drugs was seized by gardaí last year. Just 10% of drugs are seized by the security forces around the world. This means the drugs trade is worth €1 billion a year, which is horrific. Much more must be done to tackle serious crime.

The report states that 20% of the overall population has taken illegal drugs in the past year. Twice as many men as women have taken illegal drugs. The report indicates a higher use of sedatives, tranquillisers and anti-depressants among women. Perhaps we should look at alternative medicine and abolish the overuse of tranquillisers. I do not agree with promoting the use of cannabis as an alternative medicine. While some people highlight the qualities of cannabis, we have taken great initiatives against smoking in the past five or ten years. Since tobacco was introduced, most people take cannabis by way of inhalation. More people have died from tobacco-related illnesses than died in the First World War and the Second World War. Tobacco is a relatively new substance, which is with us for just over 200 years, but I would not recommend cannabis as an alternative medicine.

Schools must develop their own drugs prevention policies and there must be greater emphasis on drug abuse programmes. This is not the final solution. We are all aware that we cannot drop litter because we were taught this in school. It is only when fines are introduced that we take such matters on board. There needs to be a policy of enforcement and drug pushers need to be put away for a long time.

The remit of the national drugs task force must be broadened to allow these people to work on the ground in their own communities to identify addiction problems, whether in regard to drink or drugs. I welcome the regional task forces but they must be allocated increased manpower and increased funding to allow them to tackle drug abuse in communities. While the Minister of State is doing all he can in this regard, the Government cannot be serious about tackling the drugs problem. Prior to the last general election, 2,000 extra gardaí were promised, yet, at its conference yesterday, the Garda Representative Body stated that just 121 gardaí have been recruited since this promise was made more than two years ago. While the Government may want to stay in power for a long time, at this rate it will take 20 years to fulfil the promise made prior to the last general election to increase the force by 2,000.

If the Minister of State asks the Minister for Finance, or perhaps someone more powerful in the Fianna Fáil Party, to deliver on the promise of 2,000 extra gardaí, I will believe he is doing everything possible to solve the problem.