Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I seek an urgent debate on prisons in light of the report in The Irish Times yesterday which shows levels of drug use in prisons are high. Inmates tested positive for drug use approximately 40,000 times during the past three years. This is a damning indictment of Government policy since 2006. We have seen no reduction in drug consumption in prisons despite promises from successive Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform of a zero tolerance approach.

We have no rehabilitative programmes for drug users in prisons. Today's newspapers carry reports that prison guards now claim they are powerless to arrest people smuggling drugs into prisons. If we are serious about tackling drug use, prison reform and having rehabilitative programmes in prisons we must address this as a matter of political priority. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the House for a meaningful debate on this matter? It is disturbing that in some prisons detection of drug use was as high as 75%.