Brendan Ryan (Labour)

We were consoled in bad times that we at least had that conduit. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his service over the past five years.

It is almost 30 years exactly since I contested an election for the Seanad. As Members will know there is no cure for politics, so I will contest the next election.

What is more profoundly worrying than the revelation of the scale of the importation of drugs into the country is the reason that such a demand would exist among our population. It is a challenging question as to what will persuade a significant chunk of society to use cocaine. At a risk of starting a major row, I believe cannabis is a separate issue——