On 9 July 2007 the Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007 was enacted.1 The Act provides a coherent statutory mandate for the functions and responsibilities of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, including: 

Co-ordinate the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy (including matters relating to the allocation of services and facilities to counter drug misuse in areas of the State where such misuse is significantly higher than in other areas of the State). (Section 2 (1) (d)) 

According to Section 2 (2–4) of the Act, the Minister also has the power to develop, implement, maintain, expand or terminate any scheme that in her or his opinion supports or promotes the functions for which he or she is responsible, including the co-ordination of the National Drugs Strategy. 

The precise meanings of ‘National Drugs Strategy’ and ‘scheme’ are clarified in Section 1 of the Act.  ‘National Drugs Strategy’ is defined as ‘national strategies approved from time to time by the Government for the purposes of countering drug misuse in the State’. ‘Scheme’ is defined as ‘programmes or measures operated, managed, delivered or sponsored, whether in whole or in part, directly or indirectly or in conjunction or co-operation with any other person … by the Department in relation to the performance of any of the functions of the Minister’.

With regard to other ministers and organisations with roles and responsibilities for implementing the National Drugs Strategy, Minister Éamon Ó Cuív TD stated: ‘It should be noted that section 2 [of the Act] does not seek to limit or assume in any way the powers, functions and responsibilities of other Ministers or State agencies or bodies. Accordingly, there is provision in the Bill for appropriate consultation with other Ministers.’2

1. Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007. Available at www.gov.ie/oireachtas/frame.htm

2. Ó Cuív É(2007, 3 July) Parliamentary Debates Dáil Éireann Official Report: Unrevised. Vol. 637, col. 1246, PDF version. Available at www.gov.ie/oireachtas/frame.htm