Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act, only a single conviction under the Misuse of Drugs Acts is eligible to become spent. A range of issues arises if a person has multiple convictions for drugs in terms of these convictions becoming spent. We would have to consider very carefully whether we should allow a greater number of drugs offences to become spent. I take the Deputy's generic point about rehabilitation and people getting a chance to move on but I am mindful that under section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, the penalties for a third offence of possession of drugs is a sentence of up to three years imprisonment so that is-----

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