asked the Minister for Health if any recent reports have been received from the Commission on Drugs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Commission on Drugs.
10.
I would refer the Deputy to the statement issued to-day on my behalf by the Government Information Bureau regarding interim recommendations made to me by the working party on drug abuse.
Is the Minister and the working party aware of the growing scourge of drug addiction and that additional people are being hooked every day? We were informed on the 18th October, 1966, that the Minister intended to introduce legislation in relation to the possession of certain drugs and associated matters. This was to be done immediately but three years have since passed and nothing has been done.
We have had this working party giving us advice on the question of dangerous drugs and, as the Deputy may know, I have added, for the Committee Stage of the Health Bill, measures to control the use of drugs in advance of a more elaborate Bill which is now being prepared by the draftsman and has already been agreed to by the Government for the further control of dangerous drugs. If the Deputy and other Members of the House will read the report of the working party on dangerous drugs they will then be able to ask me any questions they wish as to my interpretation of that report.
As this is such a serious matter, is the Minister in touch with the Minister for Justice with a view to having legislation introduced immediately to catch the pushers of drugs? According to a report in the Evening Press on 16th May, 1969, in a survey that had been carried out in Dublin, Galway and Wexford, it was found that there were 1,643 drug addicts in those three places alone.
Who carried out the survey?
It was carried out by a working party.
There are no drugs in Wexford.
This is taken from the Evening Press.
We cannot have a debate on it at this stage.
I am asking the Minister for Health is he is in touch with the Minister for Justice because we were also promised legislation three years ago by the Minister for Justice as regards the possession and pushing of dangerous drugs.
Will the Deputy please read the amendment issued to the House for the present Health Bill which covers a considerable part of the measures required? As far as the Minister for Justice is concerned, in the Poisons Bill there will be a section dealing with Garda powers which will have to be debated in the House. It concerns what powers the gardaí should have in the discovery of the use of drugs, particularly in private houses. That will arise for discussion in the Dáil. The Minister for Justice has agreed to that measure but it is being put into the Poisons Bill which is being prepared under the auspices of my Department.