There had been concerns among campaigners that the issue might be set aside.
The new government has pledged to press ahead with plans for supervised drug injection centres. The Fine Gael-led minority administration will also support a health-led rather than criminal justice approach to drugs, it was confirmed today in the new Programme for Government.
There were concerns among campaigners that plans for the injection rooms, which were championed by former drugs minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, could be set aside by the new government.
And speaking to TheJournal.ie after losing his seat in the general election, the former Labour TD said he had “no idea” what would happen to the plan he had set in train.
The Fine Gael-Labour cabinet last year approved amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Bill which allow for the establishment of supervised injection centres, but the legislation has not yet been introduced in the Dáil or Seanad.
Ó Ríordáin had warned that any new health minister could take the provision out of the bill if there was “political pressure” or the issue proved to be “too thorny”.
Source: Daragh Brophy, The Journal, 11/05/16
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