Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I wish to speak on the cocaine epidemic and the tragic events of the past week. An issue is raised of human rights and the political philosophy on which we operate. This goes back to John Stuart Mill's principle of individual liberty and that we restrict the individual only to the extent it is necessary in the common interest.

We know a link exists between individual usage of cocaine and crime, the destruction of lives, violence and gangland crime. We also know we can do only so much to restrict the supply side through the best efforts of the Garda Síochána and co-operation at European and international level. If we do not examine the demand side we fail to tackle this problem. I call for a debate on the specific matter of the demand side. It must be done by a combination of persuasion, penalty and fines.

The Leader of Fine Gael, Deputy Enda Kenny, proposed voluntary random drugs testing in schools, to which the Taoiseach responded positively. However, a case can be made for mandatory random drugs testing in places of employment, universities and public institutions. This could start with the Oireachtas. This is a serious subject and it would be an extremely serious measure. However, if we are serious about tackling the usage of drugs and the downstream effects of this usage, it is a mechanism that could be considered. Already, we have random testing of drivers for alcohol. It is in the common interest.