Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I counted 20. I stand by the Leas-Chathaoirleach's 21, if it is 21. I thank the Members of the House for their contributions to the Order of Business. Senators Ardagh, Ruane, Bacik, Humphreys, Burke, Devine, Ó Domhnaill and Nash raised the issue of the report Building Community Resilience published by Dr. Johnny Connolly. It is a very important report. As Members will be aware, Dr. Connolly was a member of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Today's report dovetails very much with initiatives being taken by the Government around the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, and on the whole issue around the community policing model. Senator Nash made a very good point that it is not just a criminal justice debate, it is also about health and education. I would be happy to have a debate on that. It is important that we have an honest debate. I have not read all of Dr. Connolly's report but it is important to recognise a number of points, one being that, as Senator Ruane has said, it is about how we look at and view the conversation around the misuse of drugs, those who sell and deal in drugs, and the communities that are ravaged by drugs. Senator Humphreys commented on politicians not engaging or canvassing on it when electioneering. Those politicians do everybody a disservice. I do not share that philosophy. The report by Dr. Connolly has built upon other work done, such as the Greentown study. We will have that debate. To be fair, the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, has done a lot of work in the area, and especially given that she is from the same constituency referred to by Senators Ardagh and Devine.I have a very strong view on Senator Paddy Burke's point on the misuse of drugs, especially cocaine. I served on the Cork city and county policing committees. We were told cocaine use is on the rise, not just among a certain section but across every community, particularly young professionals. I certainly subscribe to the view that there should be drug testing in the workplace.