Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Illegal Trafficking in Drugs.

Mr. O'Donoghue

In the light of the record seizures of massive hauls of cannabis and ecstasy over the weekend I wish to record my utter disbelief and outrage at the inaction of the Minister for Justice. The two massive drugs hauls, worth almost £21 million, seized within 48 hours of one another, no doubt represent the tip of a monstrous iceberg. There is evidence from those on the ground that the drugs problem facing this country is at a level much greater than that evident in the drugs-rampant early 1980s.

What is the Government doing about this tremendous problem? It is high time the Minister for Justice admitted she has no policy to deal with the drugs problem other than a desire to stumble from crisis to crisis while suffering as little political embarrassment as possible. At a time when the country is awash with drugs the Minister for Justice is frozen in studied inactivity, bereft of either a policy or the political will to implement one. If indecision and prevarication were drugs the entire Cabinet would be high.

No doubt we can expect the announcement of the usual "fix"— the establishment of a committee, policy group or working party which the Minister ingests at the onset of every difficulty to keep her removed from reality. The time for prevarication and indecision is over. If the Minister is unable to take the lead by announcing a coherent strategy to combat the trafficking in drugs, she should have the grace to follow and implement the concrete steps I have been proposing for some months.

It is clear that existing legislation is hopelessly inadequate to deal with the drugs crisis. The Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984, set out to make possession of a controlled drug the primary offence. That has not succeeded in stemming the flow of drugs into this country nor has it prevented thousands of young people from becoming addicts. It is time for a new policy that will attack the evil of drugs on two fronts. The use of any controlled drug, with the exception of opium, is not a criminal offence. This must seem inexplicable to the thousands of decent citizens whose lives are made a misery by the demented activities of addicts.

At a time when the Garda and the forensic science laboratory have the ability and the technology to analyse alcohol or other prohibited substances in a person's blood, the continued absence of any offence relating to the consumption of a controlled drug is an encouragement to addicts and pushers alike.

It is intolerable that people who abuse drugs become immune from prosecution the moment the drugs enter their bloodstream. The Minister could rectify this glaring anomaly within days if she had the determination or the political will to do so. If her past performances are anything to go by, all we will get is waffle, followed by a committee and prolonged inactivity.

The criminalising of the consumption of drugs is only one aspect of the overall strategy needed to fight the menace of drugs. An all out war against the people who import and sell drugs is also needed. Every weapon at the disposal of the Government, the Garda, the Customs Service, the Revenue Commissioners, the Navy and the Air Corps should be used in this battle. A coherent and co-ordinated approach to policing our shores and ports must be devised and implemented. In addition, the proceeds of drug trafficking must be ruthlessly pursued and confiscated.

I have already pointed out to the Minister that existing legislation does not permit money to be frozen in a bank account in the course of an investigation of a criminal offence. I have published a Bill to rectify the position. The Minister has greeted my warning and my Bill with characteristic paralysis. That is her privilege but it is one she will have to answer for on a future occasion. I invite the Minister to take the first step in the war against drugs by announcing that she will introduce legislation to outlaw the use of controlled drugs. This will be the acid test of her commitment. A Minister who refuses to outlaw the use of drugs is waving a white flag at the pushers and signalling political capitulation to the drug barons.

Mrs. Owen

Before dealing with the Deputy's motion, his comments imply that somehow or other the drugs problem here started within the last three to four months and that it did not exist during the many years in which his party was in Government. I understand the rhetoric the Deputy has to engage in but perhaps he would consult with his colleague beside him. She will tell him——

Mrs. O'Rourke

The Minister was a fair woman for the rhetoric.

Mrs. Owen

——just how long she has been fighting the problem of drugs.

An Ceann Comhairle

There is a strict time limit on this debate. Interruptions of any kind are quite unwelcome, if not disorderly.

Mrs. O'Rourke

The Minister is being provocative.

Mrs. Owen

Does the Deputy not think Deputy O'Donoghue was provocative? I think it right and proper to place on the record of the House my appreciation, and that of the Government, of the tremendous efforts of the Garda and the Customs and Excise service in seizing record quantities of controlled substances in recent days. Last Friday, 31 March, Customs officers, assisted by gardaí from Harcourt Square, seized 2,000 kilogrammes of cannabis resin in Dublin Port. On Sunday, 2 April the Garda seized approximately 25,000 ecstasy tablets in Dún Laoghaire Port.

These seizures follow a number of very successful Garda and Customs operations so far this year. Prior to the seizure of the 25,000 ecstasy tablets, there was a very important seizure of 5,000 tablets in Feburary, also at Dún Laoghaire. The following day, gardaí seized a half of a kilo of heroin at Dún Laoghaire. February also saw a major seizure of amphetamine tablets when 1.5 kgs were seized in Cork. Last month there was a significant seizure of 95 kgs of cannabis resin and, for the first time, a seizure of the drug commonly referred to as "khat"— a drug most associated with Somalia. In so far as the last seizure is concerned, I should make it clear that the drug was seized during trans-shipment through this country.

As the House will appreciate, I am not in a position to make any detailed comment on the operations which led to these successful seizures. Suffice to say that the Garda and Customs personnel deserve all our thanks for their seizures of these drugs. These are significant seizures which show that the law enforcement agencies are hitting the traffickers where it hurts most. Most of all, these seizures show there is no substitute for intelligence-driven operations if we are ever to tip the scales against the traffickers.

I can assure the House, however, that nobody is complacent because of these finds. On the contrary, the scale of these seizures — irrespective of whether the drugs in question were intended for this country or elsewhere — puts the dimension of the drugs problem into perspective.

In particular, concern has been expressed about the dangers of the drug commonly known as ecstasy. I fully share these concerns and deplore any effort to present this drug as a harmless, recreational ‘soft' drug. Ecstacy is a dangerous drug which has claimed young lives. Its association with heroin use has been clearly established.

The Deputy asks about publication of the report prepared by my Department designed to identify the best arrangements for achieving a cohesive and co-ordinated response to the drug trafficking problem. As the Deputy will recall, I dealt with this issue when responding to a parliamentary question regarding the recent cocaine find in County Clare tabled by him for answer on 14 March. As I said on that occasion, the report is being finalised and it is my intention to bring proposals to Government, based on the report, as soon as possible. This remains the position. I can assure the Deputy there will be no delay in submitting these proposals. I am fully committed to putting in place, as soon as possible, detailed arrangements to ensure the fullest possible co-ordination and co-operation of the Garda, Customs and Excise and the Naval Service.