Dublin Mid-West TD Gino Kenny says he welcomes the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use interim report which was published last week.
The Committee, which has a remit to examine and respond to the 36 recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use, has given a response to each Citizens’ Assembly recommendation and agrees with all 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.
Deputy Kenny, who is the Chair of the committee, stated on the publication of the report:
“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 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.
“It’s now imperative that the recommendations are implemented ”