There can be no misunderstanding on the issue of illegal or banned drug use. They have to be taken out of the system and people found guilty of their use and misuse dealt with firmly, appropriately and by the law. Any other position is clearly untenable and whatever measures are needed to ensure that these reprehensible practices are stopped must be enforced and financed.

I have not seen or heard any arguments to allow their use being promoted in discussions or print, either privately or publically. This scourge is not simply an Irish problem either – this issue is global and authorities around the world are trying to wrestle with the problem.