Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue about medically supervised injection centres. I commend the Minister of State for the way he has handled the matter to date and ask him to clarify further how it will be addressed and delivered. I have just come from the Joint Committee on Health and Children which has been discussing emerging trends and key responses to HIV in Ireland. It has been indicated that there has been a substantial increase in the incidence of HIV in recent years, in particular last year and this year. There is also a younger cohort contracting HIV in various ways, some of which have been identified. There is major concern that intravenous drug addiction and behaviour is one of the contributory factors. There is a strong view that having properly supervised injecting rooms would be effective in addressing this situation. Street injection is particularly dangerous and risky. It is engaged in by marginalised groups, individuals, homeless people and people with various difficulties and it seems it is now taking place to a greater degree than in the past.

We must address the issue in an effective manner. It is time to grasp the nettle and say that this is one way to deal with some of the problems related to drug abuse. It is not a panacea by any means. Resources are needed across the board. Other aspects must also be addressed. However, we can have safe and supervised injecting. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction recently reported that, in areas where it has been introduced, this can be an effective way of reducing HIV and other harmful problems associated with intravenous drug addiction.

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