Health minister to take on drugs and alcohol policy

Health Minister Leo Varadkar will take up direct responsibility for the sensitive areas of drug and alcohol policy.

The decision followed days of confusion within the Department of Health as to who would take over the brief, following the departure of Minster James Reilly and Minister of State Alex White.

A meeting was held yesterday between Mr Varadkar and Minister of State Kathleen Lynch during which the National Substance Misuse Strategy brief was discussed.