Controversial plans to decriminalise drug use have been met with staunch opposition from within both Fine Gael and sections of the Gardaí, the Irish Independent can reveal.
Senior Fine Gael figures have warned that the Labour Party proposals for a new decriminalisation policy are "at odds" with the garda intelligence recently provided to the Department of Justice in relation to the drugs trade.
Gardaí have expressed deep concern over the level of potency currently attached to both ecstasy and cannabis - two of the most widely-used drugs on the market.
Garda intelligence also warns that homegrown cannabis has become a major commodity for criminal gangs and that its wide availability is directly linked to a increase in small-time drug debts.
The warnings, which are understood to have been communicated to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, come as new figures show an explosion in the ecstasy trade in Dublin.
Gardaí have seized almost €1.4m worth of the Class A drug in the first three months of the year, including a staggering 108,000 tablets. This is a major increase on previous years.
Over €1.7m worth of cannabis was also seized by officers in the capital.
Source: Niall O'Connor, Irish Independent, 11/11/15
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
