Madam, - Former junior minister Eoin Ryan revealed to The Irish Times that in his period as minister of State, he considered the issue of whether legalisation of drugs of abuse was appropriate before concluding that it would be too great a step at present. This level of honesty is admirable. His comments and the remarks of Jerry Cameron, a former US police chief at the Rethinking the War on Drugs Conference should be brought to Mr Michael McDowell's notice.
When I discussed this issue on The Late Late Show in May, I was subjected to much vitriol by the PDs in the media and also by Mr McDowell in the Dáil for advocating, not for the first time, that personal use of drugs should be decriminalised for the purpose of harm reduction.
Those who abuse themselves through drug use should take responsibility for the consequences. Trafficking and selling drugs should remain a crime unless the Government decides to return to the early 20th century position but insists on quality control and licencing. - Yours, etc,
Dr BILL TORMEY , Dublin City Councillor, Fine Gael, Glasnevin Avenue, Dublin 11.