Dr. Gerry McCarney:

This is why we are asking for a period of time for independent research on the various models that exist in order to determine which one might fit an Irish situation.

Regarding decriminalisation, the suggestion that the potential for having a criminal record might act as a deterrent is, as indicated in our submission, based on research from California. The latter is as valid as any other research. We are not philosophically opposed to the idea of decriminalisation but there is a need for a balanced approach. Any Irish model deserves to have some research done to see what would be the best approach here.

Having worked for quite a few years in St. Patrick's Institution, I rarely met a young person who was in there just because of possession of drugs. There were other behaviours - including acquisitive crime and public order offences - associated with their drug use and often this was why they were in the criminal justice system. Decriminalisation is not going to necessarily wipe the slate clean for everyone and that must be borne in mind. It all comes down to providing services which can help people and there is across-the-board agreement on that here. That common ground should be our focus.

On the issue of the jobs market and employment, we cannot run away from the fact that if a person is using a drug that impacts upon memory, concentration, motivation, drive and application, that will have an impact on how well he or she might do in the pursuit of a job. That is the reality of the situation. However, if we have proper services to help people, to get them back into education and to motivate them to change their behaviour, that will be beneficial and we are all in agreement on that point.