A first time TD for Cork North Central has been appointed Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for Addiction, Recovery and Wellbeing.

Party Leader Mary Lou McDonald appointed Deputy Thomas Gould this week, who said he was delighted to be given the role.

“It is an honour to be given this chance to shape the Sinn Fein Drugs Strategy and engage with stakeholders in my community and nationally on the issues affecting them,” he said.

“I will work tirelessly to support communities affected by drug addiction and to make our streets safer. We need to reduce the harm of addiction to families and communities across this state,” he added.

Deputy Gould said that he would be speaking with various stakeholders and community groups in the coming weeks “to ensure that their voices are heard by government on this sensitive and important issue.

“Communities have been destroyed by drug addiction and it is time that we worked collectively to reduce the harm these substances have and protect vulnerable young people from future risk,” he concluded.