Labour TD, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has been appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for Drugs.

The Dublin Bay North TD is already the Minister of State with responsibility for New Communities, Culture and Equality. This brief is spread across both the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Mr Ó Ríordáin was first elected a TD in February 2011, having previously worked as a teacher and principal in a Dublin inner city school.

His new appointment has been welcomed by Health Minister, Leo Varadkar, who insisted that there is ‘a lot of merit in appointing a cross-departmental Minister for Drugs, as there is a significant overlap between health and justice in this area, ranging from treatment and prevention to enforcement and diversion'.

"The new role will bring together the work and actions of the HSE and Gardai among others," Minister Varadkar said.

He also commented that the appointment comes at a good time as the Department of Health has just started work on a new National Drugs Strategy.

This was backed up by the Ana Liffey Drug Project, which provides health and social care to over 2,700 people every year.

"Drugs, including alcohol, have a massive impact on life in Ireland. The current drugs strategy runs to the end of 2016, so it's a timely appointment as the new Minister can focus on driving the development and implementation of the new strategy," said Ana Liffey director, Tony Duffin.

He also noted that Junior Minister Ó Ríordáin is well aware of the damage drugs can do.

"He represents a north Dublin constituency and previously served on Dublin City Council. He has significant experience of working in communities in Dublin's inner city. He will know of the impact that drug use has on families and individuals.

"He will have spoken to businesses who are frustrated with the negative perception issues like public injecting cause. No doubt, he will have seen public injecting first hand," Mr Duffin noted.

He added that the Minister ‘has a significant track record of campaigning for the rights of the most marginalised groups in Irish society'.

"This experience is welcome and I have no doubt that he is well placed to lead the development of the new strategy."