Skip to main content
Normal View

Joint Committee on Drugs Use publishes ‘Interim Report’ with 59 recommendations

22 Oct 2024, 14:54

The Joint Committee on Drugs Use today published its Interim Report, the Committee was formed to examine and respond to the Citizens' Assembly’s thirty - six recommendations on drugs use in Ireland.

 

 

The Committee was given a seven-month period to publish a report, up to January 2025, but is publishing an interim report on 22nd October 2024 to record its work to date.

Speaking about the report and work of the committee, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Gino Kenny said:

"The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use is pleased to publish its interim report today. The Committee has a remit to examine and respond to the 36 recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use. The Committee runs until January 2025. It’s unclear whether it will be able to do much further work on this fundamental topic. This is the reason for publishing an interim report now rather than lose the valuable work completed to date. The Committee regrets that it is unlikely to complete its agreed plan of work and engage with other valuable contributors."

"The Committee has given a reasoned response to each Citizens’ Assembly recommendation and agrees with all of the substantive recommendations. This includes recommendation 17 which calls for the decriminalisation of all substances. The aim is not to criminalise possession but to move towards a health- led approach where options around treatment, if needed, can be explored."

The Committee held engagements with stakeholders in June, July, September, and October of 2024 which provided evidence from a broad perspective of voices and sectors of Irish society. Arising from these engagements, the Committee made 59 recommendations in its interim report. These include:

  • the stigmatisation of drug use and the shaming of drug users are a source of significant harm.
  • that Government introduce a health-led approach to the use and misuse of substances.
  • the decriminalisation of the person in relation to the possession of all substances for personal use, in line with the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly - this highlights that the goal of drug policy should be to reduce harm and eliminate stigma, both, in large part, caused and exacerbated by the criminalisation of people who use drugs.
  • Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1997 be repealed, to give effect to a comprehensive health led approach.
  • the decriminalisation of possession for personal use should apply equally to all illicit drugs.
  • people should be offered all supports and health resources that are required, but that no person should be criminalised for not availing of a supportive intervention.
  • the importance of there being a strong, constructive working relationship between the community, voluntary and statutory services, and An Garda Síochána, to support the provision of compassionate and person-centred interventions where required, underpinned by a robust Memorandum of Understanding.
  • local authorities and An Garda Síochana are supported and empowered in strongly discouraging and reducing consumption in public areas. This should be done in an appropriate and sensitive way which considers the complex inter-relationship between problematic use and extreme deprivation and homelessness.
  • that specific trauma and harm reduction training be provided to An Garda Síochána and local authorities, to inform their work with individuals and communities affected by drug misuse and addiction.
  • the development of clear guidelines for An Garda Síochána to operate within a decriminalised model.

Deputy Kenny continued:  "There’s no excuse for a new Government to say that issues around the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use haven’t been discussed properly. Both the Citizens’ Assembly and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use have looked at the issue in detail. There’s still a lot to look at of course, but between the work done by the Committee and the Citizens’ Assembly, it’s clear that there is a consensus that criminalising and prosecuting the use of drugs for personal drug use is a waste of money and is very detrimental to anyone convicted. The Committee is very clear that the supply and sale of drugs should remain illegal and recognises the huge damage done to individuals, families and communities by drugs and those who profit from them.

The Committee also made its own recommendations based on the evidence given by Irish medical practitioners, service use providers and users and national and international experts. The negative effects of drug use impacts all of society but disproportionately affects already disadvantaged groups and communities. It is time for a change in how drug use is treated in Ireland and the Committee hopes its recommendations will help with this change."

The Joint Committee on Drugs Use requests that the issues raised in this interim report be the subject of a debate in both Houses of the Oireachtas. 

The Committee’s Interim Report is available on the Oireachtas website.

Media enquiries

Garret Farrell
Houses of the Oireachtas
Communications Unit
Leinster House
Dublin 2

+353 (0) 85 800 7243

garret.farrell@oireachtas.ie
pressoffice@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @OireachtasNews

Top
Share