On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and community of Paddy Cooney. He was an esteemed public representative who served the people well.

Today is international Human Rights Day. We have to think of all those all over the world who are denied their basic human rights. The theme for this year is "Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials", emphasising dignity, equality and freedom as values that shape daily life. We have to honour the vision set forth in 1948 with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and we have to think of all those all over the world who do not have their human rights respected, but have them denied, particularly the people of Ukraine, Gaza, the West Bank and Sudan.

I will raise the issue of supports for youth theatre. Thirty-three years ago in Kildare, we were very fortunate that Peter Hussey set up Crooked House, which is a Kildare youth theatre. For 33 years, it has been providing Kildare, and the region well beyond it, with very high-quality drama-based workshops that help support the holistic development of the person. It works not just with young people but with those with disabilities, older people, local schools, women's sheds, etc. It has been relying on a small amount of money from our local council, and from Erasmus funds because it carries out a number of European workshops, but its outgoings are considerable. It is supporting a team of 15 as well as volunteers. Now, after 33 years, it finds itself in a very difficult situation financially and faces the possibility of having to close. We need to ensure that youth theatres such as these are kept viable and get funding. I would like a debate on that in the House with the Minister for arts and culture.

I will raise an issue in relation to drug use. There was a programme for Government commitment to a whole-of-government health-led approach to drug use. The last national drugs strategy was drafted in 2016, nearly ten years ago. Work is under way on a new strategy, which we need to see, but I raise the particular issue of intimidation of families. Over the weekend, we saw the horrific situation in Edenderry, where four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and his grand-aunt, Mary Holt, were murdered, while his grandmother, Pauline, is very ill. I spoke to Councillor Claire Murray about this and the shock and devastation in Edenderry has taken over everything. This is not the first time we have heard of innocent family members being targeted. We know that drug cartels are intimidating families into paying debts. They are using threats, violence and coercion. The Garda has set up the drug-related intimidation and violence engagement, DRIVE, project to help and encourage families to report intimidation. We need to support families to do that.

In the next drugs strategy, we need to see this referred to. I understand the draft of the new strategy is going to produced soon. I would like to see a debate in this House, particularly on the area of intimidation of families.