Drugs Minister Aodhan O'Riordain has said he wants to see legislation introducing injection centres for addicts before the next election.
The newly-appointment minister says he wants to see people who inject heroin in alleyways and apartment block stairwells provided with a safe, medically supervised location.
"I feel a massive responsibility on my shoulders to think about this problem differently," Mr O'Riordan said.
He conceded that opponents to medically supervised injection centres may argue that the move is "legitimising heroin use".
"I can understand those concerns," he said, but added that such centres could help as "part of a road to recovery that is safe and slightly more dignified is better than what we have at the moment".
Source: Robin Schiller, Irish Independent, 07/05/15