The North's Minister of Health, Ms Bairbre de Brun, has been confirmed as the Minister responsible for co-ordinating action to tackle drug misuse in the North. This is despite earlier speculation that she would not want to work with the RUC on the issue.
Reacting to her appointment, Ms de Brun said she wanted to ensure that those with drug problems would receive "appropriate and sympathetic" treatment and support.
"I will be working closely with my Executive colleagues to ensure that all departments with a role to play work in a co-ordinated and concentrated manner to reduce the harm that is caused by drugs." The Ulster Democratic Party said Ms de Brun's appointment was a welcome development given that there had been no ministerial responsibility for the issue for the past two months.
"Whether Ms de Brun is the right person for this task is a question that will be answered soon enough . . . I do not care who does the job as long as it is done right and politics is not allowed to creep into the drug issue, which stretches across all political boundaries," the UDP leader, Mr Gary McMichael, said.