Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I watched the television programme on Limerick last night. I feel very sorry for all the good people in the area that was mentioned. I cannot help but notice that much of today's anti-social behaviour, from unprovoked attacks on people to rob them to the extortion of money from those who owe money to drug barons and drug pushers, is generated by the drugs problem. Therefore, the sooner we get to grips with it, the better. What really annoys me is that some prominent people in society make excuses for the use of cannabis. Anyone who knows anything at all about drugs will tell us about how dangerous a drug cannabis is. Not only is it a gateway and soft drug, it also causes mental illness. Anyone who advocates its legalisation needs his or her head examined. If we could eliminate the drugs problem, we would be able to eliminate much of the anti-social behaviour in society. I feel sorry for those who live in certain areas of the country, not just the area in Limerick mentioned last night. In the main, drugs are at the centre of all of the problems encountered.