‘I don’t have any proof’ – Cllr Donal Gilroy as he raises drug concerns
No councillor, TD or senator should be under the influence of drugs or alcohol when decisions are being taken, a Sligo councillor has said.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Donal Gilroy feels so strongly on the issue he has tabled a motion for Monday’s monthly meeting of Sligo County Council.
Speaking to The Sligo Champion ahead of the meeting Cllr Gilroy said he had been told, and that he has no proof of this, that there appears to be cocaine use in the Dáil.
“I’m not sure if it’s used in the Dáil, or before they come in. I don’t have any proof.”
Stressing the need for politicians to be of sound mind before casting votes, Cllr Gilroy added, “I just feel people complain about things like the Dáil bar and things like that, and I don’t have a problem with somebody having a glass of wine with their dinner in the evening and then going in to vote, but they shouldn’t be under the influence of anything when they are making decisions, when they are casting their vote.
“I do understand that party TDs are often under a whip as to which way they vote so they are literally just going in to press a button but the decisions that they take are very important.”
Cllr Gilroy explained, “I started to think, does this just apply at national level or does it apply at local level? If we are voting on an issue to deal with budgetary matters; to do with services being provided by the Council; to do with housing policy, whatever it might be, that you could have councillors that are under the influence of any product and I think a national look has to be taken at this to ensure that everybody is of clear mind when they are making those decisions on behalf of the public that appointed them.”
“We can stand up and talk about crime and all of these issues where so much of it leads back to this industry, and it is being whitewashed.
“I hope there is nobody using drugs in any decision-making office in Ireland be they in the Oireachtas, County Councils, In the European Parliament, in any of those or any of the staff working in them.
“I do think the use of drugs appears to have changed to the likes of cocaine from being something social when people are out, from what I am hearing and reading, is that a lot of people who are using these, they are using them to get through the next day.
Stressing that he is not orchestrating a witch hunt against anybody who be experiencing personal difficulties, Cllr Gilroy said help should be offered to anyone suffering addiction issues.
“I’m certainly not looking for people who have a problem with drink or drugs (to be severely punished), they should be offered treatment, but there has to be some sort of line drawn, and it pointed out to them by an official that a test came back that you were under the influence, and you are going to be targeted for additional tests.
“Firstly there would be no public repercussion if you start a treatment programme, everybody is entitled to get treatment for it, no matter where they come from or what position they hold.
“If these people had to take a step back from public life for a while to get that done, they wouldn’t be the first. Sometimes that has to be done. We can’t be standing up in chambers making big speeches about crime and its effects on society while turning a blind eye to what is financing the vast majority of crime.”
Cllr Gilroy said he hoped his fellow Councillors offer the motion their support.
“I would hope people would support the motion, some might say it is none of our business, but it is.
“People have needs and I accept and if people need help that’s ok, I’m not looking to hound anyone out of office or anything like that.
“I think the issue needs to be looked at, and I am just raising a flag that maybe someone should say, ‘That’s something we have to put right because it will creep in, and the next thing is it will become common.
“We all know people whose lives have been ruined by drugs, in different walks of life, and you just think how would this impact if they were in my position, in public life, would they be making bad decisions for the people, or maybe they might make better decisions, who is to say.
“I believe it would be the wrong way to be making a decision when you are not in fully responsible and I don’t see why we should be different to sports people or drivers of cars.”
He wants the council to write to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Eireann and the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann for the purpose of ensuring politicians are not under the influence.
Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.