The Minister for Health, Simon Harris, has promptly reacted to a Twitter request from Hot Press’ Deputy Editor, Stuart Clark.
In it, Stuart says: “Today would be a very good day for Simon Harris to reaffirm the government’s commitment to the medically Supervised Injecting Facility, which is after all official government policy, and to decry the stigmatisation of people struggling with addiction issues.”
Minutes later came the response: “Let me reaffirm my commitment to a supervised injection facility. It remains Government policy. Catherine Byrne T.D. continues to lead on this. I want to see it happen and will do all I can to make sure it does. Tomorrow we will announce measures which show a health-led approach to addiction.”

That brought about the following response from Merchant's Quay who've won the tender to run the pilot SIF in their existing Dublin 8 premises: "Supervised injecting facilities and other harm reducing measures have long been Government policy. It’s time for delivery. We look forward to tomorrow’s announcement of what we hope will be evidence-based progressive approaches to drug use."

Last week saw Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin fire a major broadside at the government for not doing enough to push through the pilot Merchants Quay SIF, planning permission for which has been refused by Dublin City Council. Here’s what he had to say: https://www.hotpress.com/music/senator-aodhan-o-riordain-blasts-minister-dublin-city-council-blocked-heroin-injecting-centre-planning-permission-22782958

Today would be a very good day for @SimonHarrisTD to strongly reaffirm the government's commitment to the medically Supervised Injecting Facility, which is after all official government policy, and to decry the stigmatisation of people struggling with addiction issues

— Stuart Clark (@stuartclark66) August 1, 2019

Let me reaffirm my commitment to a supervised injection facility. It remains Govtpolicy - @CByrneTD continues to lead on this. I want to see it happen & will do all I can to make sure it does. Tomorrow we will announce measures which show a health led approach to addiction

— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) August 1, 2019