Independent TD Tony Gregory called for an extension of the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) to deal with drug trafficking.
He said that he saw the failures of the 1990s repeated in his Dublin Central constituency, with young middle-ranking drug dealers "in their zero-six jeeps and cars, apartments and affluent lifestyles", continuing to claim and receive social welfare payments.
"This was the very issue the Criminal Assets Bureau was set up to prevent. Other young people, of course, see this and many follow the easy money in drugs," said Mr Gregory.
"The Criminal Assets Bureau should be regionalised and given local structures to stamp this out. It is the most effective way to stem the drug tide. Otherwise, the Garda drug units, under-resourced as they are, will only provide a fire brigade service and will have no real impact on the ongoing drugs' crisis."
Mr Gregory was introducing a motion, moved in Private Members' time by a number of Independent deputies and Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, calling for Government action on the issue.
He said the Minister for Justice had taken almost five years to start delivering the necessary community gardaí in local areas. "During those five years of neglect, the drug gangs have gathered momentum and our young people are now among the highest consumers of hard drugs in Europe."
Catherine Murphy (Independent, Kildare North) called for greater security at Weston aerodrome to prevent the illegal transportation of drugs. "While the Government did bolt the front door access to the State at our major airport, it has handed out copies of the back door key to anyone interested in having one. Anybody can own, run, or work at a private airfield without going through a security check."
Finian McGrath (Independent, Dublin North Central) claimed drug-related crime was spiralling out of control. "The criminal justice system needs to be reformed to give greater respect and protection to witnesses and victims in criminal cases so that intimidation can be minimised."
Dr Jerry Cowley (Independent, Mayo) said that heroin had devastated disadvantaged communities. "It is estimated that there are 15,000 people addicted to heroin in Dublin alone. Yet the State provides only 20 residential detox beds in the entire country."
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said there was a certain amount of ambivalence on the part of the Government in dealing with addiction. He added that there was need to bring an alcohol products' Bill before the Dáil rather than having just a voluntary code operating in the alcohol industry.
Sinn Féin justice spokesman Aengus Ó Snodaigh said that any Garda-led effort to curb supply and demand in the illegal drugs' market would be ineffective unless it was conducted in partnership with local communities.
Minister of State for the National Drugs Strategy Noel Ahern said the problem was being addressed under the pillar headings of education and prevention, supply reduction, treatment and rehabilitation and research.
Insisting that real progress was being made, Mr Ahern said that by last July 8th, 118 clients were recorded on the central treatment list. In addition, a vast range of clients, who were not opiate-dependent, had availed of counselling and rehabilitation services.
Mr Ahern said a study had indicated a decrease in the numbers of people using heroin in the greater Dublin area, although he was not saying that with any degree of complacency.
