Social Democrats co-founder Catherine Murphy discusses sex, drugs and aliens in Hot Press interview

Social Democrats co-founder Catherine Murphy has admitted to taking drugs and said she would give up sex — if this would help solve the housing and homelessness crisis.

In an interview with the latest edition of Hot Press magazine, out today, the Kildare North TD also said, while she was agnostic, she believes there may some sort of alien life in other parts of the solar system.

The mother-of-two talks about marrying at a young age and has strong views about the need to increase access to housing for people and for measures to help the homeless.

Asked, hypothetically, if she could solve this crisis on the one condition that she’d have to give up sex, Ms Murphy replied: “I’d almost give up anything to sort the housing crisis because I see people here every day of the week.

“If there was something you could actually personally sacrifice to resolve that problem, there would be very little that you wouldn’t do, to sort that housing and homeless crisis. It’s the tragedy of our time... But I would do way beyond that. There’s lots I’d give up to sort that crisis out.”

She also admitted to previously inhaling marijuana.

“I have, yeah. I even inhaled it,” adding she enjoyed it. She favours making the substance legal for medical purposes: “Certainly, looking at the evidence around it — and what has worked elsewhere — I think I would say decriminalising rather than legalising it.”

She also supports injection centres for drug users. “There are people who are addicted to very significant drugs and essentially the aim would be to try to encourage people, and give them support, to get off those drugs. But you have to manage it.

“For example, in the city of Dublin at the moment, there’s a very serious problem with people injecting in public spaces.”