Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for raising this issue and I welcome the opportunity to update the House regarding this very important topic. The programme for Government includes the commitment to convene a number of citizens' assemblies, including one to consider matters relating to drug use. The specific timing of future citizens' assemblies will shortly be finalised by the Government.

Consideration is being given to the appropriate methodology for future citizens' assemblies, including one on drug use. Decisions will be guided by the experience of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality, which completed earlier this year. An independent researcher was appointed by the assembly to monitor and record, among other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the assembly. This report, published in July 2021, will assist in decisions on future assemblies' use of virtual meetings.By their very nature, citizens' assemblies require large gatherings to be truly effective. There has, therefore, been an unavoidable delay in the establishment of the next citizens' assembly due to public health restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Department of Health's approach to the citizens' assembly on drug use will be informed by theGovernment's health-led approach to people who use drugs, as outlined in the national drugs strategy. An important component of the health-led approach is the health diversion programme, which will offer compassion, not punishment, to people who use drugs. This approach will connect people with health services and provide a pathway to recovery, thereby avoiding a criminal conviction. As outlined in the programme for Government, the programme will be reviewed after the first year of implementation to ensure that it is meeting all of its aims and to make any necessary changes. This review could usefully inform the deliberations of the citizens' assembly on drug use.

A strategic priority for the implementation of the national drugs strategy for 2021 to 2025 is to promote alternatives to coercive sanctions for drug-related offences. This will include the exchange of best practice with EU member states, as part of the EU drugs strategy for 2021 to 2025. I believe, as the Deputy does, that a citizens' assembly could usefully consider the learnings from the health diversion programme and other similar alternatives to coercive sanctions.

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It could also inform the development of the next national drugs strategy to replace the existing strategy in 2025.

I have been in touch with the leaders and I understand that the timing of the citizens' assembly will be determined by the leaders of the three parties in Government. I hope, as I said, that this will be announced in the coming weeks.

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