Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Having listened to the contributions, we could spend several meetings going through the flaws in the system and the challenges we believe exist. The establishment of this dedicated committee is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us to get to grips with making this better. There are many flaws in the system and I accept that the witnesses know that, too. We can try to try to improve them through this process. I accept the witnesses’ bona fides in appearing before us. They want to improve the system.

The main societal challenge in this regard is that people are not in full agreement about how to improve matters. There are many who want to make changes because they know the system is not working but who are terrified of making matters worse. Many are taking that approach to this discussion, including the citizens’ assembly.

I wish to discuss the citizens’ assembly, whose report has been laid before us for debate. Given the national drugs strategy and the assembly’s recommendations, where does the Department of Justice stand on the development of policy and what is the way forward for us in terms of making recommendations, the Government adopting them and so on? What is the pathway as opposed to the position?