Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not know what to say after that previous contribution. I seem to remember the very same voice in this Chamber on the day after the American presidential election saying that we needed to get used to the new world order and that the era of political correctness was over. A congratulatory message was sent from the same individual to the newly elected President. I am delighted we have had such a Pauline conversion to the realities of the new regime in America.

That is not the reason I rise to my feet. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, on her achievement yesterday on getting the medically supervised injection centre proposal through Cabinet.This incredibly important legislation being shepherded by the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will save lives. Often in the Chamber we debate health and public policy issues, but, as this legislation comes to the House, I appeal to all parties that I know support the legislation to do so robustly and without fear because the issue of street heroin injection means we are dealing with the most vulnerable of our citizens. I was involved in the formulation of the legislation in the previous Government, and I am delighted to see the Government has taken it on. It is in the programme for Government and it is being delivered. It is not the role of people in opposition to pick holes in Government policy all the time. We will oppose when necessary, but we will also support when necessary. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, is to be congratulated. It is a proud day for her and the Oireachtas that our drug policy is becoming much more enlightened. She is doing an excellent job in this regard. I hope to stand in the Chamber and see the legislation go through the House in the coming weeks.