Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the national drugs strategy and congratulate the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Catherine Byrne, and everyone involved. The strategy is really good and I welcome many parts and actions contained in it. I look forward to seeing some of those actions brought to life, which is the hardest part of any strategy.

I acknowledge the fact that Senator Higgins and I witnessed the drowning of a young man at Portobello Bridge last Friday night. He entered the canal and two young men jumped in after him to save him. Drownings often happen in the Royal Canal. I am not sure what has been done to educate and inform people about the dangers posed by swimming in canals, especially at night. The drowning I witnessed took place around 10 o'clock at night. I send my condolences to his family. My thoughts are with the young men who spent over ten minutes trying to resuscitate him before the ambulance arrived. They are probably at home and have not received support to assist them to cope with this tragic experience.