Senator Gerard Craughwell- speech from 23 Feb 2022

A lot of people today have spoken about your community. Well, Lynne Ruan, your community is my community. The person I loved dearly died because of addiction. And it is the most horrible death. So it's not something you're going to find in the poorer areas of society. You're going to find it in every single corner of society. You're going to see it destroy families. You're going to see it destroy some of the finest people I've known in my life. Another couple I know, very well-heeled couple, very well-off, whose son was addicted. And I spoke to them and they spoke about the pain in cutting him off, forcing him out because they could no longer have him in their home. And we're talking about a citizens' assembly for a mayor of Dublin. Come on, for God's sake, let's get real and talk about the real issues that exist in this society. We cannot continue to close our eyes and pretend this is something that happens over there with the poor people. It doesn't. It happens everywhere. Every single street, every single household either has somebody or knows somebody that is dogged by this curse of addiction. And I don't care what kind of addiction it is, they are all bad. Every one of them. From the clean addiction of gambling down to the worst drug addictions, alcoholism, all of that. There is nothing more painful. And I recall the particular addict I'm talking about. I recall getting a call to a hospital to be told, this is it. Contact the rest of your family. And I recall thinking, that's it. And instead of passing on, the person in question recovered. Recovered stronger. And I remember having a discussion. And the discussion was about invincibility. Nothing will kill me. But it did. So, Lynne Ruan, I support you. And anybody with a heart and with a mind support you. Because it's not your community. It's this goddamn country and every country. The scourge of addiction. The scourge of drug abuse. Alcohol abuse. It's everywhere. And maybe it is time that we sit down as adults and discuss this. And stop discussing the nice things. Maybe discuss some of the bloody horrible things that go on in this world. Maybe now is the time for it. I commend you, Lynne, from the day you came in here. You fought for those who are unable to fight for themselves. And I will support you today. And anybody with a mind and a heart will support you today. Or at least do you the courtesy of not voting against your amendment. Thank you.