Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I join with my colleagues in calling for a debate on the electoral register. I am disappointed that the penny has just dropped because this issue has been raised many times. My colleague, Senator McHugh, raised this issue over a year ago when he outlined that PPS numbers should be used in the electoral register. Maybe it is not too late, but something should have been done before this. I join with Senator Finucane in his point that the increase in drink driving is serious. There is a new train of thought on the many drugs and illegal substances in use. A UK report found that up to 20% of drivers are known to be driving under the influence of illegal substances, such as cocaine. These are not being taken into account with regard to the serious accidents taking place throughout the country. I am not taking away from the fact that drink driving is a major issue but the increase in the use of illegal substances is causing many accidents.

I compliment the Blanchardstown local drugs task force on setting up a local drugs hotline so those who want to pass on information on drug dealing in their communities can inform the operators of the hotline, who relay the information to gardaí. As politicians, we take great pride in the fact that we know what is happening on our own patch and in our communities. If we know what is going on, we can also pass information to gardaí. I have done this in my constituency on two occasions and on both occasions gardaí were successful in ensuring that drugs were retrieved or that people on drugs were apprehended. Politicians have a role to play in ensuring that drugs do not take hold in our communities.