GOVERNMENT PROPOSES SETTING UP DRUGS BODY

Draft proposals on the setting up of an independent expert body on the drugs
issue will come before the Government shortly, the Minister for Tourism,
Sport and Recreation told the House.

Dr McDaid was replying to Mr Tony Gregory (Independent, Dublin Central), who
raised the matter during a debate on a report from the European Affairs
Committee on aspects of the drugs issue. The report was introduced by the
committee chairman, Mr Bernard Durkan (FG, Kildare North).

Mr Gregory said he accepted what the Minister had to say, "but,
unfortunately, we have been listening to this from a variety of ministerial
sources" and it was a "painfully slow" process.

The report, Mr Gregory added, referred to the "glaring absence" of any
independent expert group in Ireland with the necessary expertise to provide
an overview of the totality of the problem.

It noted that Ireland appeared to be the only EU state without such an
independent advisory council, adding that its establishment was an absolute
priority for a satisfactory policy response to the crisis.