Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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First, I commend the members of the citizens' assembly, the chairperson and everyone who was involved and gave expertise to the project. It was a worthwhile exercise and the fact we are here today is testament to that. I spoke to Mr. Reid previously about my professional background, which is working in front-line addiction and recovery services across Dublin. I have seen services have to change and adapt to the circumstances in their area over the years not being supported by Government policy or by the HSE and that has always been a barrier. I am from north Clondalkin and am proud of the area, but my community, including my parents, neighbours and other members of the community, had to fight tooth and nail for everything that is in the area. I am talking about the most basic services, such as schools, transport and at one stage we even had to fight tooth and nail for the local shop. It is an area that is disproportionately affected by addiction, but it is also disproportionately affected by poverty, and poverty underpins a lot of areas that are affected by trauma, which leads to high levels of addiction and adverse drug use.

I have seen too many of my peers and family members succumb to a life of addiction over the years. Some people do not have an alternative. That was there and that was their way. Addiction and drug use are escapism. That is why is called getting out of your head. It is getting out of whatever is going on, whether that is poverty or trauma. It is escapism and continuous drug use can lead to problematic drug use, which can lead to addiction.

One of the biggest scourges in my community and other communities like mine is drug debt intimidation. People are afraid to ask An Garda Síochána for fear of reprisals. Families can often not pay back exaggerated drug debts to unscrupulous drug dealers. I say "exaggerated" because what they say is owed is a ten times multiple. Parents or young people are often put in a situation where they have to do things they would not normally do to get the money to pay back these unscrupulous dealers. That is where the intimidation aspect comes in.

I am aware of the DRIVE project. I linked in with it before. We have a partial one in my area of Clondalkin. I am interested in what other solutions and barriers were discussed at the citizens' assembly in relation to drug debt intimidation. It relates to recommendation 26. Will the witnesses start with that?