in a major exclusive interview in the new issue of Hot Press – en route to shops now, and available to order online – Ireland’s new drugs Minister Colm Burke TD says that Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan was more than likely right when, earlier this year, she told Hot Press that she believed many Irish politicians have secretly taken drugs.

"I mean, no matter what area you go to, whether you go to talk to a group of solicitors or barristers or doctors, nurses, care assistants – a certain percentage would have [tried drugs]," Burke says. "I’m sure you saw the recent figure there, where up to over 20% of people interviewed in a health research group, health research board, research showed over 20% have confirmed that they have used an illicit drug at some stage or other.

"So, if you’re saying that the Oireachtas is a representative group of people, you know, representing the entire population, your probable percentage in here is probably the same. I don’t see any reason why it would be any different.”

In his first in-depth interview since being appointed Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, the Cork TD also opens up to Jason O'Toole about his recent shock so called 'ex-communication' from the Catholic Church; discusses his health scare resulting in operations for a brain tumour; and lays out his stall on drug policies, including the idea of a mobile injection unit for heroin users in Cork and the urgent need for a nationwide computerised system to track any medication sold in pharmacies… and there’s plenty more controversy in this six-page Q&A…

Colm Burke. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

“It is an interview that activists in relation to drugs and health will scour carefully to see where the Minister is planning to take us,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes says. “From that perspective, it is genuinely fascinating. I think people need to read it in full, to understand what’s going on – or isn’t as the case may be.

"There seems to be a real problem at the moment,” the Hot Press editor adds, "with the Gardaí failing to apply the Adult Caution Scheme – using it in only 25% of cases of possession of cannabis between December 2020 and February 2024. Sadly there is no evidence that we are likely to see a change in this clearly anomalous situation – which means people are still likely to be criminalised for the most minor offences.

“A lot of experts and members of the public alike see that as a complete waste of the resources of the State – but let’s wait and see what the reaction is."

When asked about the worrying trend of drug addicts and partygoers turning to the painkiller drug Lyrica, which has resulted in many suicides and ODs in both Northern Ireland and Scotland, Burke confessed: “I’m sorry, I’ve heard of it, but I’m not aware of it. I’ve heard that people have adverse effects to it. But the question is, how are people getting it?”

Also in this six-page feature, Colm Burke discusses a wide variety of drug-related questions, sex work and euthanasia, explains why he doesn’t believe God is a man...

You can pick up a copy of the new issue of Hot Press in shops tomorrow – or order online below: