Gardaí should be increasing the number of raids they conduct on private parties and clubs if they suspect the misuse of drugs on such premises, but may not be doing so due to some doubt about their powers in this regard, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said yesterday.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony for 47 members of the Garda Reserve at the Garda training college, Mr O'Dea agreed that the issue of Garda powers in this regard was something which needed to be clarified "urgently".
He noted that his colleague, Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan, was examining the issue at the moment.
However, he added that the question of whether their powers need to be extended to encourage more routine raids where there isn't a "reasonable suspicion" was another matter "that will have to be discussed".
"But certainly insofar as they have the power to search places where they suspect that drug misuse is taking place, as I say if they have that power I think they should use it," he said.
"At the moment I don't think they can do it legally. Now the question is whether the law can be changed. I suppose they can do it if there's a reasonable suspicion that there's illegal activity going on there," he said.
"If there is a reasonable suspicion I think they should, and they have the power, and they should exercise that power, that's why they got it in the first place." He said he would like to see gardaí stepping up the number of such raids.
"I suspect maybe the reason why they haven't up until now is because there is some doubt about the exact remit of their powers of search and seizure. And a lot of them would take the view is it really worth it, to go through all this hassle and maybe the person won't be convicted in court."
"The information I have from my own area is that a lot of these parties take place in private houses . . . an awful lot of this stuff is taking place behind the doors in private residences."
Mr O'Dea was attending yesterday's ceremony on behalf of Mr Lenihan, who could not attend due to a family bereavement.
It was also addressed by the recently appointed Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy.
Mr O'Dea presented certificates to 47 new recruits to An Garda Síochána's reserve - nine of whom were women - with many subsequently seeking to have their picture taken with him.
There are now 292 members of the Garda Reserve, including trainees, with more than 9,000 applications for membership received to date.
The programme for government includes a commitment to increase the strength of the reserve to 1,600 by 2012.
In his address, Mr Murphy noted the variety of backgrounds from which the new recruits were drawn.
"We can never forget that we come from the community," he said. "The experience which you bring to An Garda Síochána is so important to us . . . together we will make a difference."
Among yesterday's graduating students was Nobuhiro Izumisawa (35), who is originally from Japan but who came to Ireland about 15 years ago. He lives in Terenure, Dublin, and will be based at Kevin Street station.
Mr Izumisawa, who works as an IT consultant since completing his studies in international business at Dublin City University, said graduating yesterday was a "great feeling".
He said it was important for people from the Asian community to become involved.
"Ireland has given me so many opportunities, it's about giving something back to the community for me," he said. "The other day I was on the beat and I spoke to a group of children, and I think these children had never really spoken to an Asian person."