25/11/2014

Govt Urged To 'Wake Up' To Drugs Crisis

The government is being urged to "wake up and act on the drugs crisis" following the publication of a photograph which allegedly shows drug users "shooting up" outside the offices of the Oireachtas at Leinster House.

Making the call, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Justice, Niall Collins, said that the photo shows three individuals "injecting themselves in broad daylight, in plain view of TDs and Senators, highlighting just how bad the drug situation in Dublin has become".

"The government is completely ignoring this problem. I am being contacted by concerned members of the public, despairing at the fact that illegal drug use is now an open activity in large parts of the city centre," Deputy Collins said.

"I have been critical of the government's total inaction on anti-social behaviour but like with so much else in their programme, the Government is not interested in bad news – only in PR telling us how great everything is."

The deputy added: "Now that illegal drug taking has landed on their doorstep, perhaps Fine Gael and Labour ministers might open their eyes and finally be convinced that there is actually a problem. What we need to see now is action."

(MH/JP)

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