Michael Conaghan (Dublin South Central, Labour)

The damage and devastation of heroin addiction is so widespread and great that it is often referred to nowadays in biblical terms with words like "scourge" and "plague". Heroin addiction represents a great problem for individuals, families and entire communities. It is a challenge to every one of our social structures and our political system, which has not always responded well. Perhaps the best political response came from Labour Party Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, who initiated the local drugs task forces when a Minister of State. These enabled communities to intervene with the likes of the Ballyfermot Support, Treatment, Aftercare and Rehabilitation, STAR, programme. It empowered Ms Sunniva Finlay and her team with great skill, competence and insight to intervene in individual lives and work with strategies, therapies and initiatives to allow individuals in big numbers to rediscover themselves, learn new skills, get in touch with themselves and be strengthened to see off the false lure of heroin addiction. We must stand by projects like STAR in Ballyfermot and safeguard the work done by Ms Finlay and her team.

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