20 November 2008
News Release 19th November
Health Ministers from the British Irish Council will be meeting at the Home Office in London on Thursday (20
th November) to discuss the harm caused to communities by drug problems and substance misuse.
Jersey will be represented by the Health and Social Services Minister, Senator Ben Shenton and the Director of the Alcohol and Drugs Service, Michael Gafoor.
Senator Shenton is expected to outline Jersey’s commitment to protect the community from the harm caused by the use of illegal drugs through education, prevention, treatment and law enforcement.
Senator Shenton said: “Drug misuse imposes a burden on communities through lost productivity, drug related crime and an increased community fear of such crime.
“The States of Jersey is committed to reducing the acceptability and availability of illegal drugs as well as the health and social consequences caused to individuals, families and the wider community.”
The meeting will be attended by delegates from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Guernsey, and will be chaired by the Minister of State with Responsibilities for the National Drug Strategy in Ireland, John Curran.
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Notes to editors:
1) For further comment please contact Senator Ben Shenton on 07797 742436
2) The British-Irish Council (BIC) was established under the historic Good Friday Agreement which was concluded in 1998.
3) The mandate of the British-Irish Council is to promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of relations between the peoples of these islands.
4) The member delegations of the British Irish Council comprise the British and Irish governments, the devolved governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and the Crown Dependency governments of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.
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