Níl an tAire ann.
National Drugs Strategy.
Cá bhfuil sé?
Níl a fhios agam.
An bhfuil an tAire ag teacht?
I do not know if this is unprecedented, but notice of this matter was received by the Ceann Comhairle and he selected it for discussion tonight. It is a disgrace that, in respect of an issue as important as cocaine abuse, the Minister of State has been left without a script. I accept that it is not his fault.
I was only to be present for the first two matters.
It is a shame and a disgrace. This is the third time this year that I have raised this matter in the Dáil. On the previous occasion, I was specifically concerned about what Dublin communities in particular were saying. They have identified an increased use of cocaine by young people. On 21 October, the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, replied to me that he did not think young people of 15 and 16 years of age were using cocaine. He said it was still people well into their 20s and 30s who were more likely to be using it. As the communities have been telling the Minister and as has been published yesterday in the report of the national advisory committee on drugs, the fact is that 5.1% of young people aged between 15 and 24, or one in every 20, is abusing cocaine. This is a shameful and disgraceful scenario.
The Minister does not seem to care. He has not even turned up to address the issue. It is appalling and reprehensible. If the Government cares about our young people, it will take on board the recommendations in the report. According to the report, the challenge for drug treatment services must be to reorient part of their traditional opiates-based system to meet the needs of cocaine and other drug users. Only 1% of addicts attending for treatment in Ireland are cocaine users, which is the lowest figure in Europe. The percentage in other member states is much higher. In the Netherlands, cocaine addicts represent 30% attending for treatment and it is 19% in Spain. The figures are lower in Germany, Italy and Luxembourg. The reason Ireland has the lowest number presenting for treatment is that people do not believe the treatment is worthwhile. According to a survey, they are unaware of the dangers posed by the drug.
The Minister has a problem on his hands with which he must deal effectively and efficiently. He must focus the resources of the Government on educating young people, especially those between the ages of 15 and 24. They must be told of the dangers of cocaine and of mixing it with alcohol. They must be made aware of the trauma of young people presenting at hospital with serious heart attacks as described by a consultant in Cork during the week. Cocaine is destroying young people's lives. The Government is failing to take adequate steps to change the national drugs strategy to develop the focus, support and financial resources needed to fight cocaine use.
Almost every week on the streets of Dublin, some drug baron is murdered and someone is seriously assaulted. Drugs are a serious problem. Many millions of euro are being made from them and people are being murdered. Irish people are dying because there is an insufficient degree of support for people who abuse cocaine. That is the kernel of the national drug advisory committee's report. That is the issue the Government must address.
On a point of order, should I reply to the matter?
Of course, the Minister of State should reply.
Of course, he should.
The Minister of State is a parliamentary representative from a Dublin constituency.
I have not received any advice from the relevant Department. I wish to raise that as a point of order.
Acting Chairman
The Minister of State is entitled to reply if he wishes.
I share the concerns the Deputy has expressed. I regret that the Minister has not appeared to reply to him on the important issue of public concern he raised.
Hear, hear.
Deputy Lenihan has not been advised by the Minister.
I was present to reply to the first two matters, including one which Deputy Neville raised. I do not have specific information from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
We sympathise.
The Government is not taking its job seriously.
I apologise to the Deputy. I will certainly ask the Department the reason the Minister is not in attendance to reply to the Deputy.
If he cannot come to the House, the Minister should resign.
There may have been some confusion. The Deputy has raised the issue of the abuse of cocaine which is a serious narcotic. The Deputy rightly drew attention to a report on the matter which was published yesterday and to the difficulty the abuse of the drug poses to young persons and people generally. I will certainly communicate the Deputy's concerns to the Minister.
The Dáil adjourned at 8 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Friday, 12 December 2003.