Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It was never exclusively a Dublin problem but there is absolutely no doubting that it is now a national issue. I am struggling to understand if we are all in agreement why there is such a rush to introduce this tiny measure that may leave people struggling with addiction, as Deputy O'Connell pointed out, having to get over the hurdle of a criminal conviction and increase the likelihood of them ending up with such a conviction. Nobody is looking for this legislation. Therapeutic communities are not looking for it. Why the rush to do this and not address all the other work that has been done? There is broad agreement among committee members on what is needed for communities that have been ravaged by the scourge of drugs. I am at a loss to understand why there is a flashing blue light emergency for this small adjustment, which has the potential to do nothing except criminalise people who are struggling and suffering, but there is none to address the systemic problems and the underlying reasons for addiction or even to consider the minor actions that could be taken such as counting the number of prescriptions issued by GPs by talking directly to them and to pharmacists and using whatever controls that exist, which are not utilised to their full extent. This would make a significant contribution to controlling the illicit or illegal sale of prescription drugs. First, I am struggling to understand why this legislative measure is being pushed when we are all in agreement that systemic issues need to be addressed. Second, we are not utilising the mechanisms that exist to control or monitor the sale and supply. More could be done in the context of talking to GPs and pharmacists to make sure access to these drugs is not as easy. Criminalising people will not necessarily have the impact the Minister of State desires.