I move:
That Dáil Eireann approves of the International Convention relating to Dangerous Drugs, signed at Geneva on the 19th day of February, 1925, a copy of which was laid on the Table of the Dáil on the 18th day of June, 1930, and recommends the Executive Council to take the necessary steps for its ratification.
This Convention has been so long in the hands of the Deputies that I do not want to take any time by going through the details of it. The special importance of this Convention, as opposed to any other in this matter, is really in Chapter III. In Chapter II. the contracting States undertake the effective control of the production, distribution and export of raw opium. Chapter III., the important one, then goes on: "Due regard being had to the differences in their commercial condition, the contracting parties shall limit the number of towns, ports or other localities, through which the export or import of raw opium or cocoa leaves shall be permitted." It was on the point dealt with in Chapter III. that the suppression of illicit dealings in opium had been a failure. It will be seen by anybody who reads the Convention that we are not very much touched by this. We are not a producing country, and we are not a manufacturing country as far as this is concerned. We are, to a very limited extent, an importing country, but we are supposed to limit, except on very definite conditions, the passage through our territory, or even the ships that call here. Opium has to be listed in a particular way. Unless people have both import and export authorisations, they are not allowed to convey opium to third countries; also unless we are satisfied that there is a limitation exclusively to medical and scientific purposes. The Convention is also useful inasmuch as it sets up, in Chapter VI., a central board of eight people. Each contracting State is bound to send in a report each year giving certain items in regard to the importation and use of these dangerous drugs. The State undertakes the supervision of the traffic in dangerous drugs and to take legal action to suppress it. This is one of the Conventions on which the Assembly has, from year to year, laid stress and asked on many occasions that a very big number of States should join. It is realised that the traffic is an undesirable one and that a proper attempt to suppress it cannot be made unless a very big number of States agree.
