Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators for their contributions to the debate and their support for this important legislation. On the broader issue of drugs policy, I would not like the impression to go out that this issue has in some way been deprioritised by the Government. That certainly is not the case. In 2015, for the first time in several years, there has been no further cut to the budgets of local drugs task forces and of the Oversight Forum on Drugs, OFD, which I chair. Even though we have had only a very modest increase in the budget for the Health Service Executive for this year, €2.1 million of that allocation is being given to increase spending on drug treatment and prevention. This means more detox beds at Merchant's Quay and Coolmine in 2015, more needle exchanges across the country and more investment in mental health support staff, which is particularly important. Also this year I will commence the naloxone demonstration project, making naloxone available to several hundred addicts, users, care workers, staff, family members and the Prison Service, if it agrees to be part of the project, to ensure overdoses can be treated quickly on the scene, which will result in a further reduction in drug-related deaths in 2015. The existing drugs strategy is due to expire in 2016 and work on the development of a new strategy will begin soon. While Garda operational issues are a matter for the Commissioner, I would welcome a broader debate in the Seanad which might encompass a review of the current strategy and a discussion on what should be included in the new one.

Several Senators called for a shift to a health-focused and addiction-focused approach to drugs rather than concentrating primarily on the criminal justice and enforcement aspect. My own instincts are in the same direction, but it requires careful consideration and public buy-in.

On the suggestion that there be a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for drugs, that is a matter for the Taoiseach and Tánaiste. I always welcome extra help and have learned to delegate much better in this job than I did in the past. I certainly am not trying to hoard responsibilities, but I am currently able to manage the many responsibilities of the role with the assistance of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. We have had dedicated Ministers of State in the past but I am not sure it always works well. By their very nature, Ministers of State do not have the type of clout senior Ministers do because they are not at the Cabinet table. However, if that approach is taken, the new role should be created as a dedicated position rather than being added on to an existing Ministry of State, it should be cross-departmental, because drugs issues span the areas of health, justice, education and youth affairs, and it should have a designated budget.

I would like to correct a reference I made earlier. I can now confirm that magic mushrooms are not plants but fungi, and fungi are neither plants nor animals. I apologise to the mushroom-growing community for any offence that might have been caused.

Finally, I take this opportunity to record my thanks to the civil servants in my Department, particularly Eugene Lennon and Siobhán Kennan, who did all the preparation for this emergency legislation. I was just briefed as things proceeded; they ensured the legislation was ready to go right away as soon as I got the text at 11 a.m. yesterday to say we had lost the case. I also pay tribute to the Attorney General's office and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for their assistance in recent weeks.