Last week’s Cabinet reshuffle has left the role of the Minister for Drugs vacant and has effectively sidelined the national drugs strategy at a time when we need to put every effort into tackling Ireland’s drugs crisis, according to Castlebar Fine Gael town councillor Ger Deere.
“Until his appointment as Government Chief Whip this week, John Curran TD was Junior Minister at the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy. He has been doing good work as Minister for Drugs since the Office of the Minister for Drugs (OMD ) was established in August 2009. Now the Government has gone into reverse and has undone the progress made last year, leaving drugs policy to once again languish in a totally unsuitable department with no direction or appropriate management,” said Cllr Deere.
“With the recent growth in head shops around the country and increased incidences of drug crime, drugs policy must be prioritised. The new Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey TD, must immediately confirm that a new Minister for Drugs will be appointed to continue to drive the National Drug Strategy and ensure that it is given the recognition and focus it so badly needs.”
