(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the major increase in the use of cocaine in other jurisdictions and particularly in the United States of America; the plans the Revenue Commissioners have to ensure that no similar development occurs here; the plans he has to ensure that sufficient staff is available to carry out these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increase in Use of Cocaine.
42.
I am aware of the problem referred to. Drug trafficking is a serious problem world-wide and we will do all we can within the limits of our resources to help in combating it. The recently-passed Customs and Excise (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1988, confers wide additional powers on Customs officers in this regard and it is hoped that this will have a positive effect. My colleague, the Minister for Health, is keeping the matter under consideration within his Department also.
(Limerick East): Does the Minister have any figures which indicate the seizures of cocaine by Customs and Excise officials during the past 12 months?
In Ireland?
(Limerick East): Yes, or if our Customs and Excise officials are acting abroad, as they did in the past.
The only reason I would clarify that is if we were talking about the United States. There have been no seizures of cocaine in this country in 1988 and there were only two seizures in 1986 and 1987 of 11 grammes and 29.1 grammes respectively. The Revenue Commissioners are well aware in an international context of the serious threat cocaine is now posing in Europe. I am sure the Deputy has seen a report in yesterday's Financial Times where the leaders of the main industial countries who are meeting in Canada have considered this matter and have set up a task force at ministerial level to focus attention on the consequences of drug trafficking. It is a very serious problem and we are taking full account of that.
(Limerick East): I appreciate that it is a serious problem but I am worried that it is not being treated seriously in this country. The Minister has given figures for the seizures of cocaine in the country but may I ask him if he is aware that very limited seizures of cocaine can mean one of two things — first, that there is no cocaine coming into the country or, second that nobody is active in its seizure? Has the Minister an opinion about which is the case in this country? Is the Minister aware that previous Governments and Ministers in 1978, 1979 and 1980, when there were no seizures of heroin in the country, were being continually advised that there was no heroin problem but that by 1982 the usage of heroin was rampant in Dublin's inner city and that it took an enormous amount of resources and emergency activity to control that problem during the following three years?
The prevention and detection of drug smuggling are the responsbility of the Revenue Commissioners. Every member of the Customs and Excise service engaged in the examination of passengers and goods at entry points to the country is regarded as forming part of a first line of defence against the illegal importation of durgs. As the Deputy knows, if they get beyond there it is primarily a matter for the Garda. At present six officers are employed full time in a Customs and Excise unit on drugs related work and an additional officer will be added shortly. There are also 22 Customs and Excise officers acting as drugs liaision officers throughout the country. Obviously, all Customs and Excise officials in their dealings at the frontiers have to balance the vigilance that they put into effect with any problems they may cause to legitimate travellers. This has to be balanced on an hourly and daily basis by the Customs and Excise officers. As Deputies who participated in the debate on it will be aware, the Customs and Excise (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which came into effect this year will help in the fight against drug smuggling. As we know, the Act provided that non-travellers as they are called, meeters and greeters, may now be searched for drugs at or in the vicinity of a port or airport or the land frontier and that officers may search these people under warrant for documents relating to drugs. I would also like to add that in addition to the staff, the customs drugs unit have a detector dog which is trained in the detection of cocaine and a second dog will be trained shortly.
(Limerick East): This is a final supplementary question, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his information. I have no doubt that sufficient legal power is available to officers of the Customs and Excise. What co-ordination takes place between those officers, the Garda Sochána and officials of the Department of Health in evaluating the threat which cocaine presents to this country and in co-ordinating measures to combat that threat? Secondly, are officers of the Customs and Excise responsible to his Department involved in any international network or organisation which is dedicated to the prevention of the abuse of drugs?
Taking the last part of the question first, I would not say that they are involved in any international network. They are answerable to us, but they have contacts with the international network. The necessity for that is accepted by all developed countries. We maintain and improve that contact because it is an international problem and we must have international co-operation. The Minister for Health is also aware of the increased abuse of cocaine in other jurisdictions. A national co-ordinating committee on drug abuse which monitors developments in the area of law enforcement, treatment facilities, education, community and youth development and research, will discuss cocaine abuse in Ireland in the very near future.
We must get on, now.
(Limerick East): A final supplementary question.
Am I right in thinking you said that this question was your final question?
(Limerick East): Penultimate is what I meant.
The last question before the final one.
(Limerick East): Does the Minister share my fear that we are approaching this matter in a far too casual way in the light of experience with heroin in 1979 and 1980? Then, certain official organs of State were saying there was no particular heroin problem in the country when it was quite obvious, both in the prison system and to medical staff who were treating addicts, that the use of heroin was rampant in this country.
I would hope that what the Deputy says is not correct and that we are treating the matter very seriously because it needs that. This House, with the co-operation of all parties, strengthened the powers of the custom officers in the fight against drug abuse and I hope that will have the desired result.