Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

I add my voice in support of the Civil Partnership Bill 2004, proposed by Senator Norris, and avail of the opportunity to second Senator Ross's proposal. We need to resolve this issue because there is a huge degree of scepticism out there in regard to politics and the role of this House. We have heard about Seanad reform. If we make this House irrelevant, we must take responsibility for that. A precedent has already been set by the Minister for Agriculture and Food in regard to the veterinary practice Bill which was debated here before Christmas. When the Minister discovered there was a need for substantial change to the Bill she delayed it and it has not yet been debated on Committee Stage where necessary changes will be made. Something similar could happen in this case.

I support the call for a debate on the issue of drugs. There are a number of ways to examine this issue. The abuse of drugs is rampant in provincial towns and is causing serious problems but it is not being addressed and a blind eye is being turned. Non-nationals should not be solely blamed because there are other reasons and other problems which need to be dealt with. The one serious problem is that no services are available in rural Ireland for those people in provincial towns who find themselves afflicted by this scourge and who genuinely want to get off drugs. The Minister for Health and Children needs to put such services in place in rural areas. People are forced to travel to Dublin or Limerick and they cannot get in there. For example, in a provincial town such as Roscrea, there is no methadone-dispensing chemist. This problem must be tackled immediately. I support the call for that debate.