asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the evidence of increased drug taking and drug pushing in this country, he will take steps to set up an all-Party Committee to investigate this problem during the summer recess and report to the Dáil in November, 1971, with particular references to (i) illegal drug taking, (ii) types of drugs illegally used, (iii) the sources of supply, (iv) the effectiveness of the present legislation in dealing with this problem and (v) the effectiveness of legislation in other countries in dealing with drug abuse.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drug Abuse.
10.
I do not consider that the establishment of an all-Party Committee as proposed by the Deputy is warranted. The Working Party on Drug Abuse, whose membership included three psychiatrists, a general medical practitioner, a pharmacist, two social workers, two detective officers of the Garda Síochána, an educational psychologist from the Department of Education and three officers of my Department considered fully the problem of drug abuse in this country, including the specific matters referred to by the Deputy, and submitted comprehensive recommendations to me in February, 1971.
I have no evidence to suggest that the position regarding drug abuse has escalated startlingly since the Working Party considered the position.
Is the Minister aware that the Minister for Justice reported last week that there was an increase of 98 per cent in the number of convictions for drug abuse?
I understand that was because of the passage of legislation by this House in 1970 and the strengthening of the Garda Drug Squad. I am advised by the Garda Síochána that at the moment there is no extraordinary escalation in drug traffic.
Can the Minister state whether the advisory body under his Department has access to legislation of other countries in Europe? Is the Minister aware that France are bringing in a 15 year sentence for illegal drug selling and that Great Britain are bringing in a similar sentence?
I am bringing legislation before this House in October to deal with this matter.
Could the Minister say if a report appears from an authoritive source that drug handling or drug trafficking is taking place in a particular area that investigations are carried out to find out if such reports are true?
I would have to be asked about specific areas. I have asked my Department to give me a report on whether the allegations made in regard to Drogheda are true.
And Navan recently.
I am calling Question No. 11. We have 193 questions and Deputies are complaining.
Is the Minister aware that France and Great Britain are bringing in legislation with a maximum penalty of 15 years for illegal drug selling?
I am aware that legislation is very stern in a great number of countries. I am not aware that the effect of this very stern legislation had much result in regard to the utilisation of drugs which is a part of the subculture of the countries concerned but I am bringing before the House during the next session legislation to deal with this matter. There is already legislation which provides for fines and imprisonment for those found in possession of drugs of this kind. The legislation coming before the House will deal with the special problem of drug pushers. It will deal, too, with the question of whether the Garda should have further powers of search than they have already in respect of drugs and it will deal too, with the question of medical records and other similar matters.
11.
asked the Minister for Health if his Department has fully considered the recommendations of the working party on drug abuse; and what changes in legislation he proposes to make to strengthen this country's laws against drug abuse.
I presume that the question relates to the recommendations of the working party on drug abuse regarding legislation to control abuse.
It is proposed to introduce legislation containing more comprehensive measures for the control of drug abuse. In general, the legislation would give more flexible powers to the Garda for dealing with drug offences. It would also enable the Minister for Health to exercise certain additional controls in relation to such matters as the safe custody of drugs, the keeping of records and the availability of certain drugs liable to abuse. In addition, provision would be made for dealing specifically with offences involving the forging of prescriptions or the use of such.
The working party had endorsed these measures and had also made certain recommendations regarding "scaled" penalties depending on the drug involved and harsher penalties for drug "pushers". These recommendations are being considered in my Department in consultation with the Department of Justice and it is hoped to make provision for such penalties in the proposed legislation.
Is the Minister giving consideration to the recommendation of the working party on drug abuse that lesser penalties should be imposed in respect of a person who has a drug for his own use only?
Yes, I have stated that already.
I think the Minister is making a mistake in doing that.
12.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the drug LSD can cause insanity following its use and physical and mental deformity in the first and second generation of offspring; whether he is satisfied that present legislation can effectively deal with the illegal use of the drug; and, if not, if he intends to introduce amending legislation.
I am aware that the consequences of the misuse of LSD referred to by the Deputy are only two of the adverse effects which may result from the use of the drug otherwise than under responsible medical supervision; instances of suicide, paranoia, persistent psychosis and even homicide as well as spontaneous recurrences of effect resulting directly from taking LSD are well documented.
In the report of the working party on drug abuse some young persons are reported as expressing the erroneous view that LSD was "relatively safe". I would like to take this opportunity to rebut this view and to emphasise emphatically that there are grave dangers involved even in a single experience of misusing the drug.
As I previously indicated the controls provided for in section 78 of the Health Act, 1970, under which the unauthorised possession of LSD has been made an offence, are intended as an interim measure pending the introduction of the legislation, referred to in my reply to a previous question by the Deputy today, containing more comprehensive measures for the control of drug abuse.
Since LSD is in the form of a colourless, odourless and tasteless liquid, is the Minister aware that it is relatively undetectable and that the only way of countering the pushing of this drug is to introduce severe deterrent legislation.
I am so aware. There are severe penalties for the illegal possession of the drug.
13.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a study on drug taking habits among school children in Ireland; if he is aware that one of the conclusions of this study is that the incidence of drug taking in Irish secondary schools will escalate within the next three years unless effective Government action is taken to reduce interest in drugs among the children by providing alternative and more socially desirable activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have seen the report referred to. The report had been considered by the working party on drug abuse to whom it had been submitted by the authors. It is referred to in the report of the working party, on page 11, as also is a report on the subject submitted by the Medico-Social Research Board.
The report of the working party contains extensive recommendations relating to the prevention of drug abuse among young persons. These recommendations are under active consideration at present in my Department.
In view of the fact that there is collective Government responsibility in this matter in so far as the Departments of Health, Justice and Education would be involved directly in a statement made by the researchers in this particular case, may I ask the Minister whether he has consulted with the other two Ministers?
I have told the Deputy already in reply to previous questions that all these matters are under consideration. If the Deputy reads pages 36 to 38 of the Report of the Drug Advisory Committee, he will find it is not a simple matter to set up the educational process. This must be done very carefully.