Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I would like the Leader to invite the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to address this House and debate the increasing incidence of drug trafficking. Recently a private jet was used to transport heroin into a private aerodrome in Dublin. As well as this, the talented and brave young people of the Garda Síochána went to Scotland Yard for undercover training and, in one of the most successful raids in the history of the State, took nearly 30 middle-ranking drug traffickers out of existence. However, the gardaí involved must now go to court to testify and their cover will be blown.

What kind of message will this send to drug lords in our country? Will it be that we are prepared to fight them with our hands tied behind our backs? The men and women of the Garda Síochána must be protected, put back on the streets and given the resources to remove drugs from those streets.

Three years ago regional drugs task forces were initiated. I was concerned that they would amount to mere talking shops and, unfortunately, this has proven to be the case. Too much middle management is involved whereas resources should be given to the Garda. In my county of Roscommon, where the Western Region Drugs Task Force is in operation, I have not seen a single piece of evidence that anything has been achieved in the three years since it was established. Will the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, come to this House and discuss the issue?