Mr. Paul Perth:

I just want to say thanks for the invitation to be part of this process. This is my second time here. It is great to have a voice and to be heard, which does not usually happen to those coming from working-class communities.

I welcome the report. I am wary of the word "decriminalisation" although not on a personal level. Out there, there is a fear of it. We have to be careful and we have to explain what it means. Like everything right-wing, people can take things and turn them into something else so we must have a definition. From many different conversations, I have heard people explain what decriminalisation is. If it is defined and it is clear, there is no arguing with it. It is black or white.

We also must have a holistic approach because there is trauma. There are reasons people take drugs. It is not always just for the craic - to go out, have a joint and go to work tomorrow. Some people cannot put it, and drugs in general, down. There have to be backup services in the holistic approach.

There is stuff we talked about earlier on. People are waiting six years for assessments, including neurodiversity assessments. Proper services must be provided so that for anybody using drugs, it becomes a choice rather a need.