In an unusual move, an Independent member criticised a colleague in the House yesterday. Mr Feargal Quinn expressed deep concern over statements made by Mr Joe O'Toole, general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, that an examination be made of the possibility of decriminalising heroin and making it a controlled substance like most other drugs.
Mr Quinn acknowledged that his colleague had been well-motivated, but action needed to be taken to deal with the danger created by the message which had gone out to the young people of this country, that there was a voice of authority in the House advocating consideration of the decriminalisation of this drug. "I think it was reckless to use these terms, to make this proposal and to have it carried in the papers," he said.