Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 13 June 2024

Committee on Drugs Use

Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use: Discussion

9:30 am

Mr. Graham O'Neill:

I share those sentiments. A personal sentiment is that the individuals are people, not criminals. An individual who consumes drugs for personal use should not be dealt with as a criminal. We went through a plethora of reasons individuals might consume drugs and we also went through the various levels, but ultimately the view is that the individuals should not be dealt with in a criminal justice context because they are people who use drugs; they are not criminals.