Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 20 June 2024
Committee on Drugs Use
Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health
9:30 am
Lynn Ruane (Independent)
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I will have to find it but there is good research on drug markets and that no matter how many interventions or seizures happen, it is such an intelligent market that they never interrupt the market, because it is so big.
What we sometimes see when a seizure happens is that the market corrects itself so quickly that is not really felt on the ground or it does not remove the substances, although it can do that for a little while. There has sometimes been a scarcity of certain types of drugs but it is an intelligent market. John Collins has done research on that, and it might be beneficial for the committee to read it.
I have two questions for Mr. Ryan and two for Dr. Keenan. We will then go to a final round of brief comments because we have until 12.30 p.m. I may need to leave within that time. If I do, Deputy Ward will take the Chair for the final ten minutes.
Two of the questions arise from earlier comments. Deputy Kenny gave statistics in regard to possession offences still being at a high level and Assistant Commissioner Kelly noted last week that people were also being prosecuted for other stuff. That is a bit confusing. Does it mean that the people being prosecuted for other stuff are not entitled to the adult caution scheme? If there are other charges against them, they would be up for the other charges, so why are they up for cannabis offences? Why are the two not being uncoupled? It is saying that if someone is being prosecuted for any other thing, they are not entitled to the adult caution. Is that correct?