Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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423. To ask the Minister for Health when he last chaired a meeting of the Oversight Forum on Drugs; the number of times it has met in 2015; the number of times it met in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7844/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Health, I have overall responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. The Oversight Forum on Drugs (OFD) which I chair, is responsible for the high-level monitoring of progress being achieved across the Strategy and meets on a quarterly basis.

The OFD met on four occasions in 2014 in January, May, July and October. I chaired the October meeting of the OFD, shortly after I assumed responsibility for the Strategy. The OFD has so far met once this year, on 29 January. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this meeting due to other pressing Government business. However, I am committed to attending future meetings on a regular basis.