Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State will be aware, there are issues with the national oversight committee. Will he confirm that all community and voluntary networks will retain their place on the oversight committee for the duration of the current phase of the national drugs network? Will he confirm that any change that takes place will be open and transparent? This has not happened. Will the Minister of State confirm that membership will be guaranteed? Will he give a commitment that the proposed civil society forum will also be fully transparent and open to consultation?

He must agree that addiction nurses have been treated with disrespect by being removed from the national oversight committee and that this is shocking. They should be reappointed to it. Addiction nurses have been forced to come out publicly to raise this issue with him instead of it being resolved. For them to find out through the press that he would meet them is another show of disrespect. Will he confirm that addiction nurses will be reinstated to the oversight committee, considering the pivotal role they play and the vital experience and on the ground knowledge they bring? I have a number of other questions but I would appreciate it if he dealt with these first.