asked the Minister for Health when the first meeting of the Working Party on Drug Abuse will take place; and, if he will give details of its methods and objectives.
73.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Working Party on Drug Abuse.
72.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of the recently set up Working Party on Drug Abuse (a) the exact functions of this Committee, (b) what is meant by working party and (c) how much time per week is given by the working party to investigating the drug problem.
74.
asked the Minister for Health why the secretary of the British society for study of alcohol and drug addiction was not nominated to the Working Party set up to study the problem of drugs here.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 73 and 74 together.
The first meeting of the working Party was held on 14th January, 1969. They are examining the extent of drug abuse in this country and will advise me on the steps which might be taken to deal with the situation, including measures to discourage young persons from starting the use of drugs, and on the action to be taken to assist in the rehabilitation of persons who have acquired the drug habit.
The specific programme of the working party is a matter for determination by that body.
In constituting the Working Party I had to ensure that it was of optimum size to enable it to carry out its task efficiently and quickly. Consequently I limited the membership and it was not possible to appoint all the persons, or representatives from all the bodies, interested in or identified with the drug problem.
As I have already said in the House and in a press release, the Working Party will be free to consult other persons and bodies who may be able to help them in their investigations.
Is the Minister aware that the gentleman mentioned in my question is one of the only experts in Ireland on drug addiction, that he has spoken at symposiums in England and Europe, that he has written an international book on this matter and numerous pamphlets on drug use and dependence? Is he also aware he is the only person who is carrying out a certain amount of research in Ireland at the present time?
The fact that I did not appoint any particular person to the Working Party does not mean that I did not consider the work of such a person and it does not prevent such a person from making submissions.
I asked a question in October, 1966, in which I stated that this gentleman said that if the abuse was nipped in the bud at that time the problem we have today would not arise. Does the Minister not think that a person who has done so much voluntary work in this field should be required to sit in on this Working Party? The Minister is aware that this man has given his time voluntarily and would be quite prepared to act on a board of this sort.
I think the Deputy is trying to put me in an invidious position. It was up to me to appoint a small working party and to appoint any person I wished to sit on it. That does not mean that this casts any reflection on this man.
Surely nobody knows more about drug addiction in this country or any other country than this man? The Minister could be placed in a more invidious position.
If the Deputy is implying that he could embarrass me I want to tell him he certainly could not.
I can but I will not in this House.
I am not prepared to let Deputy L'Estrange away with the nuances involved in what he is saying now. I, as Minister for Health, made a decision to set up a working party. I decided it would be a small one. I exercised my judgment on who would be on it. As I said here, my selection did not involve any lack of recognition or any criticism of any person not included, including the person to whom the Deputy is referring. I entirely reject the insinuation on the part of the Deputy that there is anything in my answer in regard to this selection which could cause embarrassment in regard to Professor Wilson or any other person.
I want to assure the Minister I could embarrass him if I wished.
I will challenge the Deputy to a discussion about that at any time, anywhere.
I could embarrass the Minister.
The Deputy is not able to do so. I will not accept the insinuation from Deputy L'Estrange. It is a cowardly insinuation which should not be made.
75.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of any scientific investigation into drug dependence at present in this country; and, if not, if it is proposed to carry out such a scientific investigation with Government support.
I am not aware of any scientific investigation into drug dependence in this country at present. While I have no proposals to arrange for such an investigation, the Deputy will be aware that I have set up a Working Party to consider certain aspects of drug dependence and abuse. When I am considering the report of this Working Party, I will bear in mind the question as to whether or not there is a need for scientific investigations related to the problems in this country.
Does the Minister not think that research should be carried out into drug dependence in Ireland? A research has been carried out by some eminent people. Does the Minister not know that those people would be prepared for a very small annual grant from the Government to engage in voluntary work regarding this matter? They would be prepared to start with £10,000 which would pay for technicians and a graduate.
I would expect that either the Medical Research Council or the Medico-Social Research Board would initiate or sponsor proposals in regard to this matter. They have not done so, so far. If they do, I shall very gladly consider them.
Is the Minister not aware that the need for a centre in which to carry out and expand this work is great? If something had been done two and a half years ago, when this question was first raised in this House and when the then Ministers for Justice and Health denied that there was any problem, and if it had been nipped in the bud then, we should not have the present problem. At that time, the Minister said he was not interested in the views of hysterical professors or of hysterical Deputies.
Nego suppositum.
The problem has been here since 1964.
Which of the 98 supplementary questions do I answer? I do not agree that, even now, there is a problem.
Does the Minister not so agree? The Minister for Health said a similar thing in England in 1962. Everybody is aware of the problem they have in England now. Unfortunately, this is catching on throughout the whole world. The sooner it is dealt with here and nipped in the bud the better for everybody concerned.
Thank you very much.
I thought the Minister said he did not think there was a problem?
It is not a national problem. The fact that we have set up a working party is evidence——
There is certainly a problem in Dublin and Cork.
There was in my county four years ago.
If I get proposals with regard to the necessity for scientific investigation——
I was not thinking of that. The Minister has a worse problem on his hands because of the refusal of the Ministers to deal with it at the right time—before Deputy Flanagan was appointed Minister for Health. I do not expect him to criticise his colleagues although I certainly shall.
76.
asked the Minister for Health whether the report of the team sent to England to study the practice of drug-taking there has yet been published; and, if not, when it is expected to publish it.
77.
asked the Minister for Health if any team of experts has been sent by his Department to study the problem of drugs in England; and, if so, if he will state the names of those sent.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions numbers 76 and 77 together.
In January last, three officers of my Department, a Deputy Chief Medical Officer, an Assistant Inspector of Mental Hospitals, and a Principal Officer, visited the British Ministry of Health and Social Security, the British Home Office, and certain hospitals in London at which drug addicts are treated and discussed various aspects of the problem of drug abuse.
The visit was a fact-finding one to make officers up to date with British experience so that we shall be able to take it into account in dealing with the situation in this country.
I do not intend to publish a report on their visit.
It is the Minister's intention, in any case, to keep in close touch with England, where they have the problem, and to learn from their mistakes?
Yes, indeed.