Vol. 459 No. 5
30 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to lend his support to the idea of the appointment of a European Commissioner with specific responsibility for tackling Europe's growing drugs crisis. [18317/95]
The allocation of portfolios within the Commission is a matter for the President of the Commission.
The fight against crime and drugs falls within the Third Pillar of the Treaty, that is to say the Justice and Home Affairs area. Commissioner Gradin has been allocated responsibility for that area of work which was held in the previous Commission by Commissioner Flynn.
Certain aspects of the drugs issue fall within areas covered by other Commissioners, for example the health and education areas and the external relations area. A unit has been estabished in the Secretariat General of the Commission, reporting directly to President Santer, with responsibility for ensuring co-ordination of the various Commission services in the area of the fight against drugs.
