Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

While I welcome the debating of this issue in any forum, I see the logic in recommending that it be sent to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and the Joint Committee on Health and Children. From the point of view of the petitioner, it shows that it definitely was not a waste of time contacting the committee - in fact, it was anything but. If, as a result, it is discussed at the two other committees, that would be positive.

As Senator O'Keeffe said, the relevant experts could be brought in, such as Dr. Garrett McGovern and Dr. Cathal O Suiliobhain, who are on the pro side, and Dr. Bobby Smith, Dr. Des Corrigan and Professor Patricia Casey, who are on the other side. From a policing point of view, we could invite Tom Lloyd, the former head of the Cambridgeshire police force, and other people in the justice area. I am sure there would be any number of people on the justice side of the argument who would come in and argue for the status quo.

On foot of this, I will contact those people, including the people who do not want to see cannabis legalised, because we need a proper debate and not a one-sided one. Hopefully, something good will come out of this because this is a debate which is raging all around the world, particularly in Uruguay and in many South and Central American states. This issue is on the move, and wherever it ends up, we should be part of that debate.