Ireland no 'soft touch' for crack cocaine

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell warned that a tough approach would be taken in dealing with crack cocaine pushers.

"Ireland will not be a soft touch for crack cocaine. Any section of the community which believes that the Government will be a pushover on this issue will find that the opposite is true."

The Minister was responding to Dublin Central Independent TD Tony Gregory, who said seizures of crack cocaine had occurred almost on a weekly basis in Dublin north city since October.

"However, while drug seizures are increasing, they usually represent only 10 per cent to 15 per cent of drug activity. This indicates that there is a complex network of crack cocaine dealers operating in the area."

Mr McDowell said the fact that most of the arrests had been carried out in Mr Gregory's constituency showed that there was a particular local issue.

The area was effectively a base for the distribution of crack cocaine, not merely in the city but in Ireland.

"It would be idle of me to pretend otherwise than that it is a particular community within the deputy's constituency which at the moment specialises in this area.

"I do not want to go any further than that because I do not want to be accused of fanning flames.

"However, in so far as immigrants are engaged in this trade, they should be under no illusion but that if they are convicted or apprehended, or if they come to attention in any other way, the power of deportation will be used aggressively and vigorously to counter this threat."

He warned that if he found it appropriate, based on available information, he would withdraw the right to remain in Ireland and deport the people in question.

"I will not be dissuaded by humanitarian concerns which are disproportionate to the damage caused by this trade."

Mr Gregory said if crack cocaine spread to drug-users generally there would be a major crisis.

The community policing forum in the north inner city, in which he was involved, had been working with the local Garda drug unit on the issue.

One of the forum's suggestions was that an inter-agency, comprised of the Department of Justice, the Garda drug unit, immigration authorities and the community, be put in place.

Describing the proposal as a "sensible idea", Mr McDowell said he would give it as positive a response as possible.

It was important that there be an inter-agency response, and that all State institutions dealing with the problem have a focused view of the problem when it was presented in a relatively confined place before it escaped and became endemic.

Mr McDowell said it was not generally understood that crack cocaine was far more potent and addictive than ordinary cocaine.

"It is far more damaging to human health, and leads to the risk of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, damage to the heart muscle and damage to lungs.

"It is frequently associated with psychotic episodes, and very violent and alarming behaviour is associated with its use."