Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with everything the Deputy has said. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, is taking the lead in this area. Additional investment is going in and some important things are happening, including for example, the opening of additional rehabilitation beds for men and women around the country.

Deputy Kenny is absolutely right that this matter will be looked at by the Citizen's Assembly. My view is that it needs to be primarily treated as a health issue rather than a criminal issue. Obviously there is a criminal element when it comes to supply and distribution but for people in addiction, we need to be addressing this issue first and foremost as a health issue.

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