Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 6

Written Answers. - Drug Traffickers and Pushers.

Eamon Walsh

Ceist:

102 Mr. E. Walsh asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, she has to give the gardaí new powers to detain drug traffickers and pushers; the plans, if any, she has to bring a package of new initiatives before Dáil Éireann to deal with the growing drugs epidemic; if she will introduce legislation to provide that a fine equivalent to 50 per cent of the estimated street value of the drugs should be imposed by any court in addition to any custodial sentence on conviction for drug trafficking or pushing; her views on whether an unpaid fine or part thereof would entitle the gardaí to arrest and detain persons previously convicted of such offences in certain cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9755/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The drugs problem is a complex one with no easy answers. The Government recognises that the problem must be confronted on a number of different levels.

Law enforcement, while clearly a vital element in the battle against drugs cannot, on its own, provide all the answers.

I have dealt with this issue on many occasions before this House, most recently during a motion in Private Member's time earlier this month.

All I propose to say at this point is that my Department has finalised a detailed and comprehensive report on important aspects of law enforcement in relation to the drugs problem here. I will be bringing certain proposals related to this report to Government very shortly.

While I cannot comment on these proposals in any detail at this stage, I can say that they will address the issues of practical and legislative changes to assist the law enforcement response to the problem.