A Misuse of Drugs Bill, has been published by Fianna Fail because of the delay by the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, in producing the promised legislation.
This was announced by the Fianna Fail spokesman, Mr John O'Donoghue, yesterday. He said that the party's Bill would contain many of Ms Owen's proposals. These would include seven day detention with safeguards, the issuing of drugs warrants in urgent cases by chief superintendents and allowing Customs officers the right to question suspects whom they have stopped.
Mr O'Donoghue said that Fianna Fail was determined not to allow yet another Dail term to come and go without that legislation being introduced.
Ms Owen's Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Bill is currently being drafted in the Attorney General's Office, and is listed for this Dail session.