Ireland has taken a step closer to introducing its first supervised injecting facility for drug users.

The Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017 has now been passed through all stages of the Oireachtas. It will allow the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, to issue a licence, with conditions, to operate the country's first supervised injecting facility.

This is a controlled environment where drug users can inject themselves with drugs they have brought with them. They will have access to sterile injecting equipment and trained staff will be on hand to provide emergency care in the event of an overdose. Staff can also provide advice on treatment and rehabilitation.

Possession of controlled drugs will continue to be an offence outside of a supervised injecting facility, and possession for sale or supply will remain an offence both inside and outside.

There are currently almost 90 of these types of facilities around the world and they have been in operation in others parts of Europe for the last 30 years.

The evidence from these suggests that the rooms can lead to a reduction in fatal overdoses, a reduction in the transmission of blood-borne diseases, a reduction in the incidence of public injecting and a reduction in drug-related litter, such as discarded syringes.

There is also no evidence to suggest that these rooms lead to an increase in the use of drugs.

There is a recognised problem with street injecting in Ireland, especially in Dublin's city centre and such facilities tend to be particularly effective at reaching out to chaotic drug users and marginalised groups, such as those who inject on public streets.

"This Bill is a progressive step founded on a health-led, evidence-based approach to drug use and countering the effect that it has on drug users and our communities. All the international evidence shows that supervised injecting facilities have a positive impact for both, and the passage of this Bill is an important milestone," Minister Harris commented.

The Bill does not state where the facility should be located, but a pilot facility is planned for Dublin city centre. The HSE has established a working group to look at this issue and undertake a consultation before a decision on the exact location is made.

According to the Minister of State for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy, Catherine Byrne, this facility needs to be located ‘wherever the need of people who inject drugs is greatest'.

"I do not underestimate the difficulties of getting the pilot facility off the ground, but the positive effect of these centres demonstrated in many other countries is unmistakeable.

"I want to reassure residents, business owners and the wider community that the HSE will be undertaking a process of consultation. Any decision on the location of the pilot facility will be informed by the outcome of this consultation process and I want people to be fully aware of what the pilot facility will do before it opens," she said.