Tony Gregory
Question:154 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health the membership of the reconstituted National Drugs Co-ordinating Committee; and if it is intended to have community representation on the Committee. [19300/96]
Written Answers. - National Drugs Co-ordinating Committee.
Limerick East): Arising from a decision by the Government the National Co-ordinating Committee on Drug Abuse was reconstituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Brian O'Shea, Minister of State at the Department of Health.
The committee is comprised of representatives from Departments of Health, Justice, Education, Defence, Enterprise and Employment, Foreign Affairs and Marine together with representatives from the Revenue Commissioners, Customs and Excise, Irish Marine Emergency Service, the Eastern Health Board, the Southern Health Board, the Garda National Drug Unit and the Health Research Board.
There is no community representation on the committee. It is, however, intended that community representatives will be members of co-ordinating committees at regional level which will in turn, have representatives on and will report to the national co-ordinating committee. This will ensure that the views of local communities organisations are taken into account by the national co-ordinating committee in its deliberations.