asked the Minister for Health when he will introduce legislation, promised in the 1987 Fianna Fáil Election Manifesto, to provide severe mandatory sentences for drug traffickers.
Written Answers. - Drug Trafficking Legislation.
124.
The Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977, as amended by the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1984, provides for severe penalties on persons convicted of trafficking in controlled drugs. These penalties (which are described in section 6 (3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1984) are as follows:
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both the fine and the imprisonment, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of such amount as the court considers appropriate or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for life or such lesser period as the court shall determine, or, at such discretion, to both such fine and such lesser period of imprisonment.
I am satisfied that these measures are working satisfactorily and I do not propose to introduce new legislation in this area at present. I will, of course, be keeping the matter under review.