The Labour Party’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has suggested that “politicians take drugs” and that “people in all walks of life” take illegal substances.
He made the comments as it was announced that Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton brought plans to Cabinet this morning to establish a new Citizens’ Assembly on drug use.
Mr Ó Ríordáin, who is Labour’s justice spokesperson, welcomed the establishment of the Citizens’ Assembly and said that it is in line with the party’s policy of decriminalising drug users.
Speaking in Leinster House, the TD suggested that while people from across society take drugs, it is typically just people from disadvantaged areas who are criminalised or end up in court.
He suggested that politicians also take drugs.
He said: “People in the media take drugs, people in politics take drugs, guards take drugs, nurses take drugs,
“Lots of people in different professions take drugs and we're not honest about it. We need to be more honest about it. We effectively just need to stop people dying from it.
“There's a huge social justice issue here. We are criminalising marginalisation. I think that has to be at the forefront of the debate.”
When asked who in politics takes drugs, the Labour TD said that politicians have already admitted to this. He denied that he takes drugs.
Mr Ó Ríordáin continued: “It's quite clear that people in all walks of life, all income brackets take drugs.
“If we're more honest about it, we might achieve something about it. But the difference is that people from certain income brackets or certain areas of the country or certain disadvantaged areas are the ones who end up in court.
“The ones in higher income brackets are able to hide it better and don't end up in court. “That's something that we really have to get to.”
When asked further questions about what politicians take drugs, Mr Ó Riordáin said that it “shouldn’t be a stunning revelation to anyone that people from all walks of life and every profession, media included, have at some point in their lives taken a substance that is illegal”.
He added: “I’m quite sure if I went into the Dáil and asked people to be honest about whether they ever took something illegal, a few hands would go up”.
Cabinet signed off on Minster Naughton’s proposals to set up the Citizens’ Assembly on drugs.
It will be asked to consider the legislative, policy and operational changes the State could make to significantly reduce the harmful impacts of illicit drugs on individuals, families, communities and wider society.
The Assembly will consist of 99 members of the general public and an independent chair. It will start meeting in April and conclude its work by the end of the year.
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