Dublin needs a supervised drug injection centre – Byrne

“Dublin needs a supervised drug injection centre”, says Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, speaking in support of The Ana Liffey Drug Project’s proposal for the first ever medically supervised drug injection centre in Ireland.

“I strongly support the idea of a supervised drug injection centre. Dublin badly needs this as incidences of public injecting in our streets and alleyways are on the rise. Work is ongoing to address the root causes of drug abuse and to help people away from a life of addiction. However in the meantime, we need to address the more immediate problem of public injecting and the risk it presents both to drug users and to passers-by.

“Supervised injection centres are designed to provide a legal, safe and sanitised environment for drug users to inject. It takes the problem off the streets and away from the public. They are operating in cities all over the world and have been shown to reduce injection related injuries and the transmission of disease.

“The Ana Liffey Project is currently preparing draft legislation on this matter. I support this project in principle and look forward to reading the detail of their proposal.”