Tony Gregory
Ceist:231 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the content of the recent correspondence from the UN International Narcotics Control Board to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29891/03]
Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Programme.
The United Nations International Narcotics Control Board, or INCB, wrote to the Department of Foreign Affairs on 22 September 2003 following reports in several Irish newspapers that the Government was considering the possibility of opening so-called "consumption rooms" for heroin users. In its letter, the INCB drew attention to Article 4 of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which obligates state parties to ensure that "the production, manufacture, export, import, distribution of, trade in, use and possession of drugs" is "limited exclusively to medical and scientific purposes", and to Article 35 of the same convention which obligates state parties to "make arrangements at the national level for co-ordination of preventive and repressive action against the illicit traffic" in drugs. The INCB requested further information on the status of the issue in Ireland and urged the Government to ensure full compliance with the international drug control conventions.
Ireland's policy on illicit drugs is set out in the national drugs strategy for 2001 to 2008. That strategy examined the issue of heroin prescription and drug consumption rooms and considered that the introduction of those forms of treatment was not warranted. However, the strategy called for the issue to be kept under review and for the results of research, both national and international, to be monitored. In that context my colleague the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, Deputy Noel Ahern, had discussions with his German counterpart on the experiences in mainland Europe of a variety of drug treatment options. Following those discussions, the Minister of State decided to visit Germany to view a range of drug treatment facilities, including drug-free projects and low threshold facilities. That visit took place between 23 and 25 September, during which he visited several facilities, including a drug consumption room and a heroin prescription programme in Frankfurt, similar facilities to those which, I believe, have also been visited by the INCB. I can confirm that there are no plans to introduce such facilities here. Ireland remains fully committed to complying with the international drug control conventions.