Flanagan: 'Highly unlikely' some TDs haven't taken drugs
Controversial TD Luke 'Ming' Flanagan has suggested some of his Dáil colleagues may have taken drugs, after admitting he has previously dabbled with Class A narcotics.
“It would be highly unlikely if they hadn’t have at some stage,” the Independent TD said.
Earlier, the left-wing politician for Roscommon/South Leitrim revealed that he had used cocaine, ecstasy and acid.
However, Deputy Flanagan, who has openly admitted to smoking cannabis in the past, insisted he no longer uses illegal drugs in Ireland.
“I’m quite aware that drugs are illegal and I wouldn’t be campaigning on this issue if I didn’t know it in the first place,” Mr Flanagan said.
@todayfmireland private members bill on cannabis legalisation later this year.
— Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (@lukeming) February 3, 2013
He compared himself to the late Mo Mowlam, entrepreneur Richard Branson and former US president Bill Clinton in his calls for the decriminalisation of drugs.
He said changing the country’s drug laws would lead to a reduction in drug use and free up Garda time, allowing the policing of other crimes.
“If people think I’m radical, so be it,” Mr Flanagan told RTÉ radio.
“The reality is it isn’t that I’m radical at all. It’s that I live in a conservative country.”
Mr Flanagan, a father-of-two, has campaigned throughout his whole political career for the legalisation of cannabis.
He announced he would quit the drug in Ireland following his election to the Dáil in 2011.
The TD said he would still smoke cannabis while abroad.
