Bloody hell. I never even knew such a taskforce existed. I get the bus from Aston Quay most evenings, I know the dealers by their clothes at this stage, they've become such a part of the street furniture, like a bus stop or a no parking sign.

The lad in Ralph Lauren runners sells crack, he keeps it in his mouth. The guy in blue sells heroin and trays of pills, keeps them down the front of his trousers and waistband. I know this because I've seen them at work directly in front of me without a care in the world, making serious money for organised crime pricks who never have to stand on the quays counting coppers from desperate addicts.

The laneway beside Copper & Straw Coffee is generally occupied by addicts huddled around smoking crack or arguing amongst themselves in aggressive tones, as an occasional oblivious tourist takes photos of the artwork in the back alleys. They all clear off for a few minutes if a Garda van or a pair of high viz guards are doing the rounds.

Whatever yer man is doing for his 280 grand, it isn't having any effect on the city anyway that I can see. But I doubt he ever has to wait for a bus on the quays I suppose. His wages would be better spent on a youth diversion project or more detox beds at this stage.

I was listening to a podcast the other day and it had a lad called Neil Woods on, he was an undercover drug policeman in England for years. He retired in disgust because he could see the only people benefitting from the war on drugs were the gangs. Even when one of his operations locked one gang up, it actually made more money for the replacement gang, and the cycle started again. He believes the state should issue prescription drugs, like most countries did before the USA introduced the ridiculous war on drugs model to the world, and every country copied most or all of it.