Barry The Magician

AT A RECENT PRESS CONference to announce the settting up of the Whittaker Commission into the Penal Services, Michael Noonan refused to answer a question about what he is doing to treat prisoners in Mountjoy who are drug addicts. At the moment there is no treatment. for prisoners who are drug: addicts. Heroin is also availlable in the prison, as it has' been for some time.
In the face of continuing' protest and publicity' the government has to be seen to act. So Barry Desmond has announced that drug pushers will be liable to be sentenced to life imprisonnment. If this will help solve the drugs problem, then it is to be welcomed. There is no evidence that it will help solve the drugs problem and it is understood that there is dissatisfaction among the Gardai who deal with the drug problem about Barry Desmond's proposal. It is understood that the proposal did not have its origins in discussions between those innvolved in the drug problem and the Minister for Health. The dissatisfaction stems from the fact that he seems to have pulled it out of.a hat.