I can inform you that I have appointed a clinical expert in nursing and addiction to the National Oversight Committee. This person was nominated for the position following a call for expressions of interest overseen by the Chief Nursing Officer in the Department of Health. The new appointee attended the meeting of the National Oversight Committee on the 9th of June.
I appreciate the contribution the organisation referred to by the Deputy can make to the national drugs strategy as part of civil society. The organisation has been invited to nominate a person to one of the strategic implementation groups, under the auspices of the National Oversight Committee.
I wish to reaffirm my commitment to the inter-agency approach involving a partnership between statutory, community and voluntary bodies to respond to the drug problem.