Written Answers. - Substance Abuse.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
76
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the innovative measures which have been considered to help address the problem of underage drinking and substance abuse; the structures which are in place to encourage a multifaceted approach to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14939/01]
The Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2000, which I initiated and which came into effect on the 6 July last, provides for a considerable strengthening of the law on underage drinking. The Act takes into account many of the recommendations of the Oireachtas committee which reported on the whole area, including those recommendations which related to underage drinking. I also took into account the many submissions received from groups and members of the public following a consultation process.
With a view to strengthening those provisions which already existed in legislation of 1988 in relation to the supply or sale of intoxicating liquor to under age persons, I abolished the defence of "reasonable belief" in any proceedings against the licence holder, increased the fines for breaches of the law on underage drinking and provided for a new penalty – a temporary closure order – for conviction of the sale of alcohol to underage persons. The removal of the "reasonable belief" defence is complementary to the voluntary age card scheme which I introduced in April 1999 in that it makes reliance on the age card scheme by licensees more important. No defence is permitted where a person wilfully supplies liquor to an underage person.
The age card scheme allows any person who has attained 18 years of age to apply for an age card at his/her local Garda station in order to confirm that they have attained the legal age for the purchase of intoxicating liquor. The Garda community relations section in Harcourt Square, Dublin 2 has overall responsibility for the issuing of the cards. The cards have security features, which include a hologram, incorporated into their design. I am happy to say that to date, in excess of 25,000 age cards have been issued, and applications are being received at the rate of 200 per day.
With a view to promoting the scheme, I launched the age card scheme awareness campaign in Dublin Castle on 6 September 2000 in conjunction with the Garda authorities who have taken the following steps to promote the use of the age card. All Garda stations have been notified of the age card scheme and issued with application forms and posters. Non-Garda outlets have also been issued with application forms and posters. A poster campaign has been initiated to target all pubs, stand alone off-licences and grocery based off-licences, night-clubs and dance halls, etc., youth information centres – youth groups nationwide have been issued with information, posters and contact numbers for further support. Garda juvenile liaison officers-community gardaí are visiting post-primary schools, youth clubs, special projects etc. highlighting the age card scheme. There is ongoing liaison between the drinks industry and the Garda Síochána and new avenues to ensure young people get the age card message are being explored.
The national age card scheme, and the special measures I have taken to promote it, will assist in combating the scourge of underage drinking.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department also provides funding for a total of 51 Garda youth diversion projects nationwide with the aim of diverting young people from becoming involved in anti-social behaviour and from coming into conflict with the law.
Through a combination of prevention and intervention programmes, projects aim to facilitate personal development and civic responsibility in the participants as well as improving Garda-community relations. Programme contents may contain a constituent element advising young people of the dangers associated with alcohol and substance abuse.
My policies in relation to combating the drugs problem are well known: tough legislation backed by strong law enforcement in tandem with an integrated partnership approach to dealing with the interlinked problems of drugs, crime and social disadvantage. This combination has resulted in significant drug seizures, major Irish based drug trafficking organisations being dismantled and local communities becoming actively involved in dealing with problems in their own areas.
The Garda is tackling both major drug trafficking groups and street level drug dealing, as well as dealing with the international aspects of drug trafficking. The major trafficking groups are constantly being targeted and a number of significant internationally driven seizures have been made. Garda operations such as Dóchas, Cleanstreet and Nightcap continue to prove effective in targeting on street dealing and the distribution of drugs in nightclubs and licensed premises. Provisional figures for 2000 indicate that the Garda made almost 7,000 arrests under these programmes last year alone.
The problems of underage drinking and substance abuse must also be addressed outside the context of law enforcement and legislation. My Department continues to play its role in the development of the national drugs strategy and both my Department and I are represented on the various structures that have been established to implement this strategy. This ensures that we continue to contribute to the development of integrated policies to tackle drug misuse at national and local level.
Considerable progress has been made in ensuring that all institutions of State are working together in implementing an integrated approach to the drugs problem through initiatives such as national drug strategy, the young people's facilities and services fund and the integrated services process. I am satisfied that these measures represent a balanced approach to the problems posed by drugs and drug addiction at local level. Measures to reduce the demand for drugs are vital in order to ensure that young people, in particular, are made aware of the danger of drugs and are given worthwhile and tangible alterna tives to prevent them from falling into a cycle of drug misuse and crime.
Fourteen local drugs task forces, LDTFs, have been established in priority areas identified as having the most acute drugs problem, namely, Ballyfermot, Ballymun, Blanchardstown, Bray, canal communities – Rialto, Bluebell, Inchicore, Clondalkin, north east Dublin – Coolock, Darndale, Donnycarney and Kilbarrack, Dublin 12 – Drimnagh, Crumlin, Walkinstown and lower Crumlin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Finglas-Cabra, north inner city, south inner city, and Tallaght.
A review of the national drugs strategy has just been completed and was launched on 10 May 2001. The primary aims of the review were to identify any gaps or deficiencies in the current strategy and to develop revised strategies and necessary new structures through which to develop them, to ensure that policies and strategies in this area remain relevant to the situation as it exists on the ground.
The National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 sets out a series of objectives and key performance indicators under the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research. A number of recommendations in relation to co-ordination are also made.
The review of the national drugs strategy identified LDTFs as an important element of the overall response to the drug problem. Their principal strength is that they allow local community and voluntary groups to work hand in hand with State agencies in responding to drug misuse in the areas most affected by the problem. The review concluded that the setting up of the LDTFs has been a positive development and they are generally regarded as an effective mechanism for tackling drug misuse at local level. Under the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, it is proposed to extend the task force model to other parts of the country, through the establishment of regional drugs task forces.
Underage drinking and substance abuse are also addressed in the context of health promotion generally. The National Health Promotion Strategy 2000-2005 has set out clear aims and objectives on the topic of avoiding drug misuse. It is the policy of the health promotion unit of the Department of Health and Children to realise these objectives in partnership with the health boards or other relevant bodies. This will ensure that each health board has in place a comprehensive drugs education and prevention strategy.
However, it must be said that while legislative measures and law enforcement, together with initiatives such as the projects mentioned can help to curtail the problem of underage drinking and substance abuse, they cannot be viewed as the only solution. Dealing with the demand side of the underage drinking problem should not be seen as the province of the State agencies alone – in particular, parents, teachers, politicians, the drinks industry, and the creative media must also play their part in helping to address that side of the problem.
