Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Not examining it means that somebody who may have had a minor conviction for possession of drugs while they were in the throes of addiction but who has now gone through rehabilitation and is no longer addicted to and using drugs has a criminal record for the rest of his or her life. If we are serious about not only dealing with drug use as a public issue but giving people a second opportunity, it is essential that people who have gone through the very tough process of rehabilitation are not labelled and stigmatised for the rest of their days. I hope the Minister of State with responsibility for drugs policy, Deputy Catherine Byrne, could look at this in respect of the formulation of the new national drugs strategy. Ultimately, it will come down to the Department of Justice and Equality in respect of spent convictions.

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