Tony Duffin, director of the Ana Liffey Drug Project that works with 2,500 drug addicts across Ireland, told VICE News his organization had been been lobbying for the introduction of supervised drug centers since the beginning of 2012. "We engaged with barristers who have drafted legislation on a pro bono basis and we handed that over to the minister in May," he said. "Aodhan O Riordain has picked up on that and has run with that and is working towards the introduction of legislation so hopefully this will go ahead. I've read he would see them open in Ireland in the next year and we would welcome that. The evidence is very strong and the evidence says that they save lives."

Duffin said he supported drug policies that were "effective, efficient, and based on good health economics," and that he wanted to see the addicts he works with "move towards treatment and rehabilitation instead of the justice system."