With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 55 to 57 together.
As far as the specific case referred to in Deputy Ryan's Question is concerned, I am informed by the Commissioner, Garda Síochána, that the newspaper report of the evidence given by the sergeant was a greatly abbreviated account which did not correctly represent what was said. The statement actually made about the drug cannabis being passed around rather openly in certain places was to the effect that it was passed around amongst members of a known small group. The statement attributed to the sergeant that drugs originated in this country and that it was not necessary to go abroad for them had no relation either to cannabis or to any so-called "hard" drug but to drugs the possession of which is not unlawful.
On the more general aspects of the Questions, may I remind the Deputies of the terms of my reply of 12th November to a Question by Deputy M. O'Leary, in which I pointed out:
(a) that general responsibility for dealing with problems concerning the use or abuse of drugs rests with the Department of Health and not with my Department,
(b) that, accordingly, the question of liaison with health authorities etc., is a matter for that Department,
(c) that there is, of course, close liaison between the Gardaí and the Department of Health, and
(d) that, in the Garda Síochána, certain members are given special responsibility for the investigation of complaints of drug-peddling and similar matters but that the disclosure of details might have a damaging effect on their work.
A good deal of confusion appears to have been caused by the fact that much of the recent newspaper publicity about "drug-taking" relates in fact to drugs the possession of which is not an offence. I understand that it is accepted that possession of some of those drugs ought to be made an offence and the Minister for Health has already informed the House that he proposes to introduce legislation for that purpose at an early date.
Even as regards those drugs that are subject to full legal control, it is inevitable, in modern conditions, that some illegal traffic in them should appear here as elsewhere and, furthermore, the likelihood is that it will increase rather than decrease. But to acknowledge that is one thing. To exaggerate the extent of the problem is quite another. The information available to the Gardaí—and I think that they are likely to be better informed on this subject than most others—is that there is, practically speaking, no problem in relation to "hard" drugs. There is a problem, but by no means a major one, about the taking of "soft" drugs.
It is untrue to suggest that responsible Garda spokesmen are saying that there is a huge problem on our hands. The considered opinion of those members who are specially dealing with the problem is that recent newspaper reports are grossly exaggerating the problem. It is clear that this kind of exaggeration, apart from giving rise to excessive and unnecessary worry on the part of parents, is itself an instrument in the spreading of the traffic because it leads impressionable teenagers to accept drug-taking as fashionable, and to adopt the habit on the basis that "everybody does it". Incidentally, I want to state quite specifically that there is no foundation whatsoever for a newspaper report to the effect that a gang of blackmarketeers supplying heroin and other "hard" drugs to teenagers is being sought by narcotics detectives in Dublin. I deplore the publication of such false reports on a serious subject.
As I have said already, however, there is a problem, though it is, almost entirely, a problem relating to "soft" drugs and, to a fair extent, drugs the unauthorised possession of which is not as yet an offence. This problem calls for, and is getting, attention— the attention which trained Gardaí, in their professional judgment, think necessary and most likely to be effective. Selected members are taking lectures about drugs and drug-taking so as to fit them better for their task. The police measures also include contacts, where useful, with other police forces but, as regards Deputy Corish's suggestion of action on a 32-County basis, I may say that the Garda authorities see no particular merit in that, seeing there is no customs check on goods between England and the North.
As a final word, however, what I would like to emphasise is that it would, in my view, be a grave error of judgment to look on drug-taking as simply or mainly a matter to be dealt with by police action. The criminal aspect is just one aspect of the problem. As I explained at the outset, the wider and more important social and health aspects are the concern of the Department of Health rather than of my Department.