Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Could I request, when I am on my feet, that the Deputy's microphone might be turned off so I can get the opportunity to reply? The report of the working group on alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use published in 2019 noted difficulties with decriminalisation in the Irish legal context. In Portugal, personal possession of drugs carries an administrative sanction. The concept of administrative sanctions for a criminal offence is not compatible with the Irish legal system. Therefore, in Ireland, drug use will remain a criminal offence but people will be diverted from the criminal justice system to avoid criminal conviction.

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