Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan on drugs, Sinn Féin, sex work and the possible decimation of the Greens

In the new Hot Press, out today, in a hugely honest and open interview, Neasa Hourigan TD talks frankly about taking cocaine and ecstasy, calls for the legalisation of both marijuana and sex work (in effect rejecting the criminalisation of clients), says cocaine and heroin should be de-criminalised, and explains why she would have no qualms about going into coalition with Sinn Féin. She also acknowledges that the Greens could be decimated in the next General Election, and does not rule out the possibility of putting herself forward to become leader of the Green Party.

Having been banished three times from the Green parliamentary party, Neasa Hourigan is perhaps the single most controversial figure in the lifetime of the current government. This powerful interview will further enhance her reputation for independent thinking and fearless honesty.

“If people are democratically elected, you have to accept what the populace returns," she said of potentially going into coalition with Sinn Féin. "If they return a huge vote of confidence in Sinn Féin, then we have to take that seriously.”

In regards to the possibility of the Greens being annihilated in the next General Election, Hourigan acknowledged: "That is always a fear."

"I’m very mindful that we could be decimated – it’s always a danger when you go into Government as a minority party," she continued.

However, she didn't rule out putting her name into the hat when it comes to the leadership of the Greens in the future:

"If I thought it would achieve 30 per cent of the vote share, I’d be willing to do that and more. And I really do think that there is a way to organise this party and to develop policies that are meaningful to the public, to allow Green politics to be 30 per cent of the vote share. That’s interesting to me. And you could do that as leader, deputy leader, chair.”

Neasa Hourigan. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

The interview also finds Hourigan opening up about her rebellious student days, and her experiences of cocaine (“I tried it twice and I liked it so much I didn’t try it again. And that’s a scary thing. I didn’t like myself on it. It was like a hyper-version of myself. It gave me a fright") and ecstasy (“It didn’t change my life or anything. I wasn’t going looking for it every weekend. It wasn’t a big thing for me, honestly. I’ve tried lots of different things").

“There’s 160 TDs, plus Senators," she continued. "Are we really saying that 160 people who have lived a life have not done multiple types of drugs? Like, that’s utterly unbelievable. It’s ridiculous lying when they say they haven’t done it.”

“I would like to see every single illegal drug decrim’, including heroin and cocaine – everything," she said. "I don’t think you should criminalise somebody who is taking a drug.”

In regards to marijuana, she noted that "we have such a high percentage of people who are safely using it, that we should just legislate for it.”

The interview also addressed the subject of sex work – with Hourigan expressing frustration that, "in this country, we confuse sex trafficking with sex work."

"Actually, we are one of the worst EU countries for prosecuting people for people trafficking," she said. "And yet we criminalise sex workers on the basis of trafficking!

"Where it’s two consenting adults, their human rights should be respected," she added. "Their own choices should be respected. They’re not hurting anybody.”

Also in this six-page feature, Neasa Hourigan discusses the Tánaiste's plans to get rid of Ireland's triple lock mechanism governing miltary deployment overseas; solutions for the housing crisis; argues that Dublin Port should be moved to make more room for housing; slams Tesco’s policy to give vouchers in lieu of cash at their machines to recycle plastic bottles; reflects on needing to take anxiety pills after becoming a stay at home mum when her daughter was born with serious disabilities; reflects on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza; explains why she will never leave the Green Party; and says she doesn’t think it was “fair” that Greta Thunberg was used to the Green movement’s advantage.

This is a powerful and revealing interview that emphasises the strong independence with which Neasa Hourigan approaches her work as a politician, as well as her deep commitment to environmental causes and to the Green Party.

The new issue of Hot Press is available to order below: