Kate Walsh (Progressive Democrats)

I am grateful for this opportunity to contribute to these statements and I welcome the Minister and his officials to the House. The five objectives of the national drugs strategy are supply reduction, prevention, treatment, research and co-ordination. It is right that Government policy reflects the complex nature of the problem facing our communities. There can be a temptation to focus solely on the policing element of drugs policy. While I welcome the recent breakthroughs on drug seizures I commend the Minister on his determination to create greater societal awareness, equip young people and vulnerable groups with skills and supports necessary to make informed choices and seek greater understanding of the factors that contribute to Irish people, particularly young people, misusing drugs.

The dedicated members of our police force have made great progress in dealing with drug abuse in communities across the country, not just in so-called drug blackspots. In my constituency, north Kildare, a cocaine mixing site was recently discovered in Maynooth. First rate work by members of the Garda national drugs unit led to the seizure of equipment and material that could have been used to make more than €4 million worth of drugs. One can imagine the harm that could have done to drug users, whether children or adults, and to their families. This House must commend the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with special responsibility for drug-related issues, the Garda and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on their efforts. We must support the new criminal justice Bill, which will introduce increased sentences for gun crimes and a range of other measures to tackle dangerous gangs that are often financed by trading in drugs and death. The Bill is currently before the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. I urge Members to support it on Second Stage.

Having worked for many years at community level I am conscious that national strategies have relevance at local level. One of the key recommendations of the national drugs strategy is to establish regional drugs task forces throughout the country. These groups have representatives from local authorities, the local VEC, the HSE, Departments, the Garda and the voluntary sector among many others. It is important that we continue to implement a strategy to tackle drug misuse, especially in the regions. We need innovative approaches to tackle the drugs problem on a regional basis, to research, develop and implement a co-ordinated response to drug misuse using a partnership approach. I commend the Minister of State and the Government on their work to date.