Ray's Speech to Fine Gael National Conference, November '08

Thank you very much, Mr Chairman.

My name is Ray McAdam and I am a Fine Gael candidate in Dublin's North Inner City. I want to talk to you this afternoon about drug misuse and the need for better preventative measures to be put in place as well as the need for greater rehabilitation facilities for those trying to live their lives free from drugs.

I live and work in Dublin's North Inner City.

I see first hand the affect of drug abuse and drug misuse has on the people of the North Inner City.

I see, not alone the affect it has on the drug user, but on the family of that user.

This in turn, has a devastating affect on the communities of the North Inner City.

And I am quite sure unfortunately, that this situation is replicated across many parts of our country.

Today, Mr. Chairman, I want to raise a number of these issues with our panel of speakers.

A report recently highlighted that one in twenty people are now taking cocaine on a regular basis.

This report also showed that those who want to take drugs are having little difficulty in getting access to these substances.

As drugs have become so readily available in Irish society, I sometimes wonder whether we actually realise the extent of drug misuse across Dublin's North Inner City and the towns and villages across the country.

Do we really understand the impact of drug misuse, is having on people's lives?

As someone trying to follow in the footsteps of the late Fine Gael TD Jim Mitchell and represent the people of the North Inner City, I am particularly concerned about the lack of preventative measures now in place as well as the shortage of rehabilitation facilities are available to those who really need them.

As I said, I hope to represent the North Inner City of Dublin.

The last Fine Gael TD elected for that area was the late Jim Mitchell.

Jim Mitchell was a passionate champion for social justice.

As Dublin's youngest Lord Mayor, Garret FitzGerald's first Minister for Justice and with over 25 years experience in Dail Eireann, Jim Mitchell fought for the forgotten, the marginalised and the oppressed.

Jim Mitchell never forgot that Fine Gael's primary mission is to create a Just Society.

One of the most critical measures needed in order to create that Just Society is fight to eradicate drug addiction in our towns and villages.

So, I want to ask the Panel three questions:

Firstly, given that the Government's Drug Strategy has been in place for many years, does the Panel believe it has had any real impact?

Secondly, are sufficient preventative measures being put in place?

Thirdly, are the support services available for those who really need and want rehabilitation?