Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday strongly rejected calls to look at legalising drugs and said that this would not happen while he was taoiseach.
Mr Ahern said he was "totally and fundamentally" opposed to what was an "easy option". There was no evidence that legalising drugs worked in any country.
He was speaking during a visit to Kerry on a day in which the removal was taking place of a 20-year-old man who died after taking cocaine at a party in Tralee at the weekend.
The dead man's uncle, former Independent county councillor Billy Leen, went on local radio yesterday and said he agreed with broadcaster Gay Byrne that the current battle against drugs was not being won.
Mr Leen said that his nephew, Rowland Blennerhassett, a hard-working blocklayer who was building his own house, had not been a habitual or compulsive drug-user.
Most young people now used drugs recreationally and did not know what quantities they could take or what was in the drugs they took, Mr Leen said. What one person could take would kill another. While he was not calling for drugs to be legalised, it was time to find a new tactic, and the debate should be opened on the issue.
However, when asked in Farranfore if he would look at the idea, Mr Ahern said that he would not even consider looking at the question of legalising drugs. "A very simple answer. I am totally and fundamentally opposed to the legalisation of any drugs in any respects," he said bluntly.
Mr Ahern said he was in favour of the National Drugs Strategy, of trying to educate young people "from getting into drugs". He was in favour of all the methadone clinics, all the "legalised forms" of rehabilitation, therapy and detox systems which were in place.
Mr Ahern arrived at Kerry Airport shortly after 11am for a nine-hour tour of the two three-seat constituencies. He was greeted by the local Fianna Fáil TDs, Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism John O'Donoghue (Kerry South), and Tom McEllistrim (Kerry North).
Election candidates Cllrs Norma Foley and Tom Fleming were also present, along with former TD Denis Foley, Mayor of Kerry Ted Fitzgerald and chairman of Kerry Airport Denis Cregan. The airport is to receive almost €18 million under the National Development Plan.