Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes. What is the issue? I know, not from personal experience but from family experience, that those individuals share needles. How prevalent is that and how are we trying to address the issue? We have the needle exchange programme running in 120 or 130 pharmacies throughout the State. Although Professor McCormick cannot comment on policy, one of the policy areas that could really bring benefit in this area is in regard to safe injecting centres, which are being proposed for Dublin as a pilot project. While I will not ask him to comment on the policy, I would ask him to share his experience of the international experience of how safe injecting centres can form part of the overall health policy on preventing hepatitis C, particularly for intravenous drug users who are sharing needles.