Vol. 276 No. 2
It is proposed to take business in the following order:—Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 14. Private Members' Business will be taken from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., No. 23 resumed.
It is proposed that the House will meet in the morning at 10.30 a.m. and sit until 10.30 p.m.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I want to raise the subject matter of Question No. 6 of 14th November on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy in the matter.
May I inquire from the Minister for Health when No. 19 on the Order Paper is likely to be published? It has now been on the Order Paper for 20 months and during that period the situation in relation to the abuse of drugs has grown increasingly serious. I would also remind the Minister that a Bill on the misuse of drugs was published in January, 1973.
There are some changes I propose to make in the Bill. I shall publish the Bill as soon as I can.
I was told over 12 months ago that the Minister wanted to change one or two sections in the old Bill, which fell with the last Dáil, and I suggest now that after 20 months he has had ample time to change these sections. The position is very serious indeed. We have had no Health Bill for 18 months with the exception of a Bill increasing health contributions on people who cannot afford such increases. The Minister would do better to devote his attention to trying to alleviate problems instead of helping to create them.
