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THE NEW MINISTER for drugs has admitted he tried cannabis in Amsterdam when he was a student.
When asked if he ever took any drugs, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin told reporters: “Once on a trip to Amsterdam as a young student, but I’m not a smoker and I’ve never taken any illegal drugs.”
Ó Ríordáin said his decision to refrain from taking illegal drugs was directly related to his experiences as a teacher in Dublin’s north inner city.
“My own personal decision and what I’ve done in my own personal life in not ever taking illegal drugs was actually fuelled by my experiences in the classroom and what I knew to be the direct connection between taking drugs and the drug gangs and the effect is has in communities and in young people and in children.”
The junior minister, who also has responsibility for new communities, culture and equality, said drugs have “stolen generations” and pass on “a huge amount of problems that children can have for the rest of their lives”.
“One of the biggest problems we have are middle-class recreational drug users who are funding the gangs who peddle drugs and result in us having children born with addictions,” he said.
Injection centres
The current National Drugs Strategy is due to end next year, and Ó Ríordáin said a large part of his focus will be on drafting a new one.
He’ll also be working on the Misuse of Drugs Act, which is currently in draft form.
The Ana Liffey Drug Project is calling for supervised centres where people can inject drugs.
Ó Ríordáin, who was only appointed to the new role yesterday, said he has had no meetings in relation to this area yet but will “listen to the experts” when drawing up the new strategy.
Tony Duffin, Director of the Ana Liffey, said Ó Ríordáin needs to “realistic” in his approach.
There are limited resources to spend on addressing these issues, so we need to be focused. There is a need to focus on the most harm. For example, there are people who, whether we like it or not, are currently injecting in public on Dublin’s streets. However, the chances of someone in this group being able to access the residential treatment that they need is negligible, because they don’t meet the criteria for entry.
“We need to change that, and to create pathways for people that don’t involve putting unnecessary blocks in front of them. Ensuring access to appropriate services at appropriate times is critical to addressing drug use in Ireland,” Duffin said.
Last year fellow Labour minister Alex White suggested he was open to the decriminalisation of cannabis. Ó Ríordáin said ”a proper discussion” is needed on that, noting decriminalisation is different to legalisation.
“Someone with an addiction should be dealt with through the health system and not the criminal justice system,” the junior minister said, but added he is “not going to make any hard calls on it yet”.
He ruled out decriminalising all drugs, as suggested by People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett.
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“““One of the biggest problems we have are middle-class recreational drug users who are funding the gangs ”
My GOD the circular reasoning there is so depressing…the drugs are only in the hands of criminal gangs because they’re bloody illegal! If we had some model of controleld legalization then those gangs would be forced to eek out a living on robberies and running swag, they’d have 10% the money they have now. Morons!
The war on drugs, purveyed by the right has been a demonstrable failure and has cost many lives and in addition has cost the tax-payer millions. Prevention and treatment is scientifically proven to work opposed to criminalisation but policy makers continue to ignore that. Decriminalisation, enhanced prevention and treatment methods in accordance with science, and a removal of the stigma would be conducive to long term success with regard to reducing long term drug dependency.
“In a 2008 study published by Harvard economist Jeffrey A. Miron, the annual savings on enforcement and incarceration costs from the legalization of drugs would amount to roughly $41.3 billion, with $25.7 billion being saved among the states and over $15.6 billion accrued for the federal government”
Lots of right-wing people, including myself, believe cannabis should be legalised. Lots of loonie lefties, like the minister for drugs mentioned above, believe that the government is like an overbearing mother that should be allowed to tell you what to do in your spare time.
Be that is it may, prohibition has historically been a policy espoused and implemented by conservatives.
You would be correct in saying liberals have been complicit in it too.
Monty
Seriously?
It’s a fair point on the cost/financial element..but at the same time unfortunate that this is the only way to get through and convince policy makers (and a sizeable element of the electorate)..
Just legalise it and reap the benefits form the billions in tax it will bring, it will also boost trade in hotels, restaurants, bars and no doubt sweet shops. I go Amsterdam a few times a year just for the relaxed vibe where you can go to a coffee shop and get stoned on many lovely things, I would go to Ireland instead of Amsterdam if I could do the same at home
Total control thats all they want https://soundmigration.wordpress.com/2015/04/20/labour-censorship-ireland-social-media/
I took drugs but it wasn’t illegal. It shouldn’t be dealt with through the criminal justice system but I’m not going to do anything about it. I like to hedge my bets but sometimes I come across as another clueless political hack.
Give him a chance Emily. He is making the right noises.
Noise is all he does.
Would have loved to hear his answer if asked did he get a hooker while there as well.
There is an awful lot of politicians from all sides that I’m not fond of, this particular two faced one makes me sick
It’s a step in the right direction, but legalisation is the only sensible approach.
And low and behold another appoinment in Leinster House brimming with outoftouchhness!
De-criminalise cannabis use and allow adults grow a small number of plants for personal use in the privacy of their own homes, along with permitting clubs similar to what we see in Barcelona set up, members (Over 18′s only) can contribute to a centrally licensed grow op by purchasing their fair share each month, no minimum purchase required, but a monthly upper limit is set. Allowing this kind of system would automatically cut the criminal element out and the supply link between cannabis and harder drugs would at last be broken. Strict penalties for supplying minors, no advertising allowed and quality control standards for clubs who are supplying members, making sure they provide good quality cannabis (medicinal standard) with strain, potency etc. clearly labelled. This would be fairly simple to implement, just as easy to retract if need be and it would offer so many benefits to our society if things worked out as they have in other countries who’ve softened their laws surrounding cannabis. Dreaming I know, but that’s what happens when you have some nice herb :)
As a hardened conservative I agree with you.
Wow. O Riordain’s acolytes must have complained. About have the comments just got yanked. O Riordain like a typical leftist believes in censhorship. For the health of the nation he must be ejected at the next election.
Have? I mean half.
Agreed. Him and the likes of Bacik need to be kept as far away as possible from making policy decisions.
Orla loves deleting comments.
Yeah. Orla loves deleting comments.
Bacik the unelectable. Jesus she perfectly compliments Aodhans condescending lecturing ideas.
Aha Labour very cheeky. Getting Aodhán in to make gear legal to buy some votes of the Marlborough street massive. Smart thinking and you almost got away with it……almost….
Real pity he didn’t stay there. Prime example of an oxygen thief.
So sick of listening to Aodhans pontificating & condescending drivel. The minister for popular opinions should give it a rest with his agendas. He didn’t inhale? So what! Does he want a medal to go with those pensions & probable seanad nomination or board membership?
Relax everyone, rest assured we’re in safe hands, he’s another teacher. God help us !!!
I thought this useless fool was only recently appointed head of the refugee internment camps, with great promises and yet he did nothing; useless tool with no comprehension about anything he does so this appointment is just the commencement of another failure
Not everyone who goes to Amsterdam does drugs, they have nice beer as well as nice people?
But alcohol is a drug.. And over there cannabis and shrooms are considered no worse or more illegal than that beer or those spirits..
Really that’s the way it should be..
Michael, that’s the beauty of Amsterdam, there is something for everyone, those who want a shag can go red light district, those who like and art can go museums , those who like beer can get it anywhere, if you like food you wont be disappointed and those who want to trip or just chill out can also do so in a relaxed, chilled out environment with no fear of being dragged into a police cell.
It is a great City
But would you live there?
And nice museums in Amsterdam don’t forget that.
Ah Amsterdam. Have a few beers , get stoned and vist the Anne Frank museum.In that order.Ill tell you ya get some weird looks when you get a dose of the giggles at Anne Franks house.
Amsterdam is where a 26k Salary becomes 15k after tax and a pint costs a fiver generally. It may be pretty to visit but to live in its a pocket burner.
No more expensive than Dublin so hurler.
Sorry, once as a student but I’ve never done any illegal drugs. What does that mean? In that case I’ve taken cocaine but I’ve never taken illegal drugs, coke is decriminalized in Portugal.also I’ve taken Khat and that’s ok in Yemen so I haven’t broken the law. This is a strange interpretation of the law to me.
Make it legal and regulate. Imagine all that free police time freed up to fight more serious crime
Another minister……..?
Another parasite, another pension. A better seat on the gravy train.
How many countries in Europe have a Minister of Drugs?
Got the pension so….
Ó Ríordáin sounds like a total idiot. So no change in the drug problem in this country….
Was he in the company of any ladies of the night?
The rhetoric is so old…….I see nothing new in his opening comments second day on the job.I suppose we will just have to wait and see if it is as I suspect just more hollow promises.He needs a reality check …he should go out and get one…Maybe I am just being cynical….
This high as a kite minister is Endas poster boy-
Rather then listening to the “experts” maybe listen to those involved?
I lived in Amsterdam for 5 months whist on Erasmus. All I did was study played some football and kick boxed . Every one would assume you go there to get stoned. It wasn’t my first reason to go there, but I knew that I would love the culture and society that surrounds a country that tolerates such a drug. And I wasn’t disappointed. I won’t lie I had a muffin and a joint here or there. This is the way I would love to see Ireland in the future . Just because you want something legalized doesnt mean you will interact with it. Be it the voting coming up for marriage equality or the topic of drugs , cultural and societal progression is the way forward . Not to mention winning the battle against the gangs .
Another case of focusing in the supply and not the demand. See the people, not the drug. I’m hopefully optimistic about the new guy.
This is a great documentary – and I nearly choked on my joint when I saw the Ould lad on it ….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZxH1Un25EI
Was that curry his yogurt on his door a few months back ?
Will he actually do something positive line legalizing cannabis or sit on the fence like all previous ministers ?
Don’t mind the hoor.. I saw that lad off his face in the dance tent in oxygen for the weekend a few years back.. He never left it.. Pulling faced ta bate the band
Our future Colombian ambassador.
Ah Amsterdam……..
What were we talking about?
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