David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. Shrewsbury Road, yahoo. People can come and get their fix on Ailesbury Road. That is a very good idea.

I do understand that where there are concentrations of drug addicts that is where the centres need to be. Supervision is vital. It has to be made clear that drug peddlers should be cleared out of the immediate vicinity. That is one of the problems we have in my area. I very rarely see anyone injecting. I do not often see that many needles and so on, but I sure as hell see the drug peddlers clustering like seagulls around the facilities for people who are addicted to drugs.

These provisions will lead to a substantial decrease in deaths among these unfortunate people because the dosages will be measured and the purity will be assessed so they will be getting decent drugs. Then there is the question of clean needles which is vital because people do pass on HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated needles so that will also be very largely eliminated.

I am very glad to have been able to speak on this Bill to strongly support the Minister of State and to compliment the Government on its courage and vision in introducing this kind of legislation. I cannot see the gentleman from the Ana Liffey Drug Project in the Gallery from this distance, my eyesight is not terribly good, but I want praise the work they have done for many years in this city.