Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 13 June 2024

Committee on Drugs Use

Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use: Discussion

9:30 am

Mr. Paul Reid:

It is disappointing from our perspective. The assembly members were clear from the floor that they felt waiting until 2025 was not good enough. They put it down as June 2024. We knew that was a challenge, that being said. It is, however, extremely disappointing. You do wonder whether, were some of these problems happening in more affluent communities, there would be a different sense of urgency. Would there be a different sense of focus? The harm is very much concentrated and while I appreciate there is harm in every community, the significant harm is concentrated in those areas that struggle from a wider societal perspective. You do wonder whether there would be greater pace and speed if it was happening in more affluent areas. Would there be greater urgency on this issue? I think there would be. We do not believe waiting until 2025 is the right approach.

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