Ms Niamh Eastwood:

In an incremental way. It would be different, depending on the drug and the harm associated with the drug. For example, with cannabis, we would have cannabis social clubs. We may want to consider, despite the EU limitations, some of the examples from the US on stores. Then we would look at MDMA and psychedelics. I would prefer, for example, a social clubs model for those. With heroin and cocaine, we would think about how to make sure we are providing products that are maybe less harmful than some of the products that are currently available on the illicit market.

The products that we have on the illicit market are a result of prohibition. With heroin, it is opium. There are a range of products one could make available. One uses taxes. One uses restrictions on access. I would prefer that we were looking at some of the opium products at the less harmful end. We should not criminalise and we should make sure that people get safe supply. For those who are drug dependent on heroin, we should be supporting diamorphine prescribing now. We can do that now.

This is not as simple as legalising all drugs. These are talking about different models in different ways with different demands depending on the person's need, whether a medical need or a consumer need. I cannot give the Cathaoirleach a clear answer on exactly what every model would look like but it is that flexibility and thinking that we need to have.