Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is not about normalising drugs; it is about people and what they do in their lives, their agency, their supports and their networks. It is about not excluding them from society because of their choice to take drugs. It is about fixing the poverty and inequality in communities where we have chaotic drug use. The Minister of State's statement was very strong, so much so that I texted him this morning to thank him for expressing such a strong sentiment. What I realise here today is that the war on drugs is an effective response from the Minister of State because we will stand over criminalisation.