Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

It is good to hear a constructive speech from the Opposition, rare as it is. There are good initiatives outlined in the Senator's contribution and they will be taken into account by the Minister of State. It is important to acknowledge the work being done by the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, and to thank him for his contribution to this debate. It set out the strategy being followed by the Government to deal with this complicated issue, which is a cause of concern both nationally and internationally.

The Cathaoirleach comes from the same geographical area as I, and for many years that area was spared the scourge of the distressing drug problem experienced in the inner city areas of Dublin and Limerick. To a large extent it did not have the type of criminal activity and drug abuse experienced in cities in the past 30 or 40 years. There is an escalating problem in Limerick city, although it is confined to a small section of the community and is contained within certain parts of the inner city. It has been suggested that the neglect of these areas and the lack of facilities, be they recreational, leisure, social services and so forth, led to people turning to drug abuse, a devastating and tragic activity.

It is unfortunate that what we were spared for many years is now creeping, slowly but steadily, into rural areas, especially in my constituency. There have been some bad incidents recently involving drugs. This has caused distress, anxiety and some soul-searching as to how it can be dealt with at a time when it was generally believed that at a national level we were coming to grips with the problem. If it had been contained in the area in which it had been prevalent for many years, the prospects of it spreading at its current alarming rate in isolated rural areas would have been minimised, if not eliminated.

I join other speakers in complimenting the members of the Garda Síochána on the work they are doing. The number of detentions and seizures, particularly in the past year or so, is an indication of a robust approach by all those involved, whether it be the drugs squad, other members of the Garda Síochána or Revenue. The result is encouraging in that they appear to be coming to grips with the escalating problem by seizing substantial quantities of drugs which otherwise would be on the market causing more damage.

It is important to get across the message about the dangers drugs pose to young people, in particular, from whom part of the solution must come. We should try to get a response from them similar to the one we are seeking in respect of dangerous driving. We could involve them in the partnership arrangement about which the Minister of State spoke. Until we do this, we will not get the results we want.

I am particularly concerned about the increased availability of speed, ecstasy tablets and cannabis at events such as concerts and festivals, particularly in the summer. There is a necessity to make sure the culture which is introducing a drugs element to those attractive social events and leisure activities is stamped out. Young people must play a part in this, as well as the Garda Síochána, the interdepartmental committees and the other interventions mentioned by the Minister of State.

Senator Henry spoke about cannabis cafés. I am not sure whether she advocated them but in so far as my opinion is worth anything, their introduction would be a unmitigated disaster. I urge the Minister of State to vehemently oppose any such suggestion which has been made for various reasons at various times, that this might be a useful initiative to try to curb the escalation of the drugs problem. Introducing cannabis cafés would be a recipe for disaster and I oppose the suggestion.

It is important to get across to young people involved in a minor way in drugs that there is only disaster waiting for them at the end of the road in what is an escalating problem. They only have to look at the devastation and tragedy caused in some of our cities, with people being shot in their cars and homes and bodies being found on the side of the road. The tragedy for the families affected should bring home to the younger generation the need to make every effort to stem this horrific development which inevitably leads to death and disaster for families and upset for hundreds.

There is a drugs squad in Ennis which is successful in so far it goes. I support the view expressed by previous speakers on the necessity to supplement the efforts of the drugs squad with support from the other agencies which have responsibilities in tackling this problem.

The Health Service Executive recently organised a conference in Dublin at which various agencies, organisations, Departments, the Garda Síochána and others involved in tackling the drugs problem came together to form an initiative to try to come to grips with it. While that initiative in Dublin is welcome, it must be replicated on a regional basis. There is a necessity in each region for a similar initiative under the aegis of the Minister of State, his officials and the interdepartmental committee. Conferences similar to the one held in Dublin could be organised at which the various agencies, whether it be the Health Service Executive or educationists, could meet at local level to come to grips with the problems in their area.

I compliment the Minister of State on the work he is doing and I urge him to continue with the approach he is taking because some success is being achieved. If Fine Gael brings forward new important initiatives, they could be built in but the main focus of attention in dealing with this issue must be on young people. Unless they take the initiative and work with the drugs squad, other members of the Garda Síochána and the State agencies to try to find solutions to the problem, it will continue and the long-term result will be further death and devastation.