FIANNA Fail's proposal to limit methadone maintenance for drug addicts was described yesterday as irresponsible by Democratic Left TD, Mr Eric Byrne. Methadone maintenance was the only realistic option for drug addicts unable to undergo simple "cold turkey" treatment, according to Mr Byrne.

He said Fianna Fail's proposal flew in the face of demands by community drugs organisations for political continuity in the approach to the drugs crisis, "a crisis which will not be solved by rash proposals made in the beat of a pre-election campaign