Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge that there have been a number of announcements this week by Government that fall squarely behind decisions taken on reports by previous Oireachtas committees, which vindicates the work of those committees. One such decision is bringing alcohol under the substance misuse strategy which will take over the national drugs strategy for 2009 to 2016. While I was Chair of the committee, we carried out a report on the inclusion of alcohol in the national substance misuse strategy. It is very heartening to see that the Minister has used the exact same phrase when bringing it before Cabinet and that the Cabinet has accepted it. I wish its advancement God speed.

Senator Wilson and I brought before this House another issue of concern. During the period when we were considering this report, we were in New Zealand where the big problem in regard to drugs at that time was the party pill. I acknowledge that the Minister brought this matter before Cabinet and it now effectively has been banned. I ask that we would ensure this ban is policed. I recognise that the matter was raised at committee, reports were made to the Minister and, on the back of that, there has been a reaction. Similarly, we drew up a report on cigarette smoking out of which came the smoking ban. What also came out was the issue of price being the biggest deterrent to smoking.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to the House to discuss a number of issues in regard to sentencing? I know we are supposed to keep away from issues that concern justice but, by the same token, there is a very strong need to consider the issue of sentencing, repeat offending and such issues.