Decriminalisation of certain drugs and the setting up of injection rooms – where addicts can safely, and legally, inject drugs – are two topics up for discussion at Dublin’s Mansion House today, where a think tank will convene to discuss Ireland’s drug problem – and possible new plans to deal with it.

Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Minister for State with responsibility for the drug strategy, will be there, and has been pushing for an open and informed discussion on the topic of drugs reform sicne being appointed to his post.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast today he said the aim of any new plan is to “look at the needs of the vulnerable drug user ... and to take that person out of the criminal sphere."

The think tank will be the latest in a series of research trips and discussions - following Oireachtas committees travelling to Portugal to witness the effects of decriminalisation and to Sydney to view injection rooms – as O’Ríordáin and his colleagues look at other models.

“Today’s conference is my own initiative ... to put more momentum behind these discussions,” Mr O’Ríordáin said.

“I don’t think people have discussed the issue with any real importance before,” he said, adding that there was a need to help people understand the issues, to cut through the myth surrounding decriminalisation.

“As soon as I say criminalisation people think I mean legalisation – I don’t mean that.”

The proposed aim is not the legalisation of drugs, he says, but on concentrating garda resources “on the pushers and not the takers of drugs”, akin to how Portugal now treats drug addicts and users within the health sphere rather than the criminal sphere.

With the clock on the current government running down one major question is will there be enough time to get all, or even some, of any new legislation enacted.

“I doubt it’s something I can achieve in the lifetime of this government,” he admitted, but insisted it is still worth having the conversation now, to lay the foundations and put the ideas into the debate.

“If we’re all saying the same thing then it will be easier for the political system to react.”

“I wanted to widen the conversation, I wanted to get a level of momentum behind it", he said, adding that there are many complex issues, including policing, location of injection rooms and other details to be addressed.

Listen below to Áodhán Ó’Ríordán speaking to Newstalk Breakfast