Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the western rail corridor project, the national development plan is under review and the revised version should be published in July, if not a little later. Of course, as the Deputy is aware, other reports have been produced on the issue, such as the Jasper Consulting report, which came to different conclusions.

The Government is very aware of the problems being created by the increase in the cost of building materials. A lot of is down to international commodity prices not entirely under our control. However, we are engaging with the industry on it to see what we can do.

In response to Deputy Gino Kenny, the Government has invested a lot in addiction services in recent years. They have been expanded significantly, including in my own constituency. We are trying to move ahead with the plan for the supervised injecting centre at Merchant's Quay, but we have run into difficulties on that.

I am of a similar view to the Deputy on the issue of decriminalisation. I do not believe the criminalisation model works. It leaves people with convictions and makes it harder for them to get on with their lives and to engage with services in order to get the help they need. Drug dealing and drug gangs are very different from what the Deputy is referring to. We both agree on that. As Taoiseach, I set up an expert group to consider the issue. It came to a different conclusion. However, the matter is not one on which the Government has closed its mind. Perhaps the convening of a citizens’ assembly is a better way to tease it out.

See this speech in context