FG never believed in injecting centres

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD
12 May 2019

Responding to media reports that the first supervised injecting centre is unlikely to ahead, the Labour Party’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has slammed Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance’s lack of faith in this project.

Senator Ó Ríordáin said:

“Comments reported in today’s Mail on Sunday, show that the Government clearly never believed in drug injecting centre. It is another classic example of Fine Gael wanting to appear progressive but when it comes to putting policy into practice they fail.

“Alternative sites could easily have been identified if the Merchants Quay site was too problematic, it is not as if there are not other sites available in the Capital City.

“Yet again, we have seen more flippant remarks from Minister McGrath about the future of the project. His remarks illustrate the value the government puts on the lives the centre will save.

“The international evidence is clear, injecting centres absolutely save lives. They save addicts from overdose, and from contracting Hepatitis C and HIV. They reduce on-street drug injecting and the associated drug litter.

“The conservative heart of the government has once again shown its priorities- when its broadband for holiday homes, no price is too high. When it’s homeless children or drug addicts, it’s their own fault.

“This project until now has been too important to play politics with, however it’s now clear that those in power just don’t think those who need it are important enough.”

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