People in Ireland are dying from drugs at a rate that is three times higher than the EU average
The tepid response to the report from the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use from government is hugely disappointing, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon.
Deputy Gannon, who is chair of the Committee, said:
“In the Dáil today, the Taoiseach preferred to talk down the clock and talk in generalities rather than answer a simple question from Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns.
“That question was, will the new National Drugs Strategy, which is being finalised at the moment and will run from 2026 to 2029, include the recommendations from our report?
“Chief among those recommendations, are that drugs for personal use should be decriminalised and a comprehensive health-led approach adopted instead.
“This was followed by a statement from Minister of State for Public Health, with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor.
‘The Minister stated that the recommendation in our report, to repeal section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, was at odds with the findings of the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use.
“This is factually incorrect. The Citizens Assembly and today’s report both recommend decriminalisation. Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act is the means by which drugs for personal use are criminalised. Repealing it simply gives statutory effect to that recommendation.
“The Minister has stated a new Health Diversion Scheme will soon begin on an administrative basis, which will be implemented by Gardaí and will result in people found in possession of drugs being diverted to health services. It is concerning that the Minister doesn’t want to decriminalise drugs in law and there will be no statutory basis for this new scheme.
“It must be stressed that the recommendations in the report, issued today, were unanimous and cross party in nature. Every political party in the Oireachtas was represented on the Committee and everyone agrees with what was proposed.
“It should further be noted that this is just the latest report that has recommended the same thing. Yet, despite this growing and repeated consensus, the government is refusing to act.
“One person dies nearly every day from a drug overdose in Ireland. People here are dying from drugs at a rate that is three times higher than the EU average. This is a crisis and the government must act.
“It is unconscionable that the government could ignore the recommendations in this report and exclude them from the new National Drugs Strategy, which will be in place until the start of the next decade.”