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

I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for the opportunity to provide an update. As I said, the programme for Government includes a 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. I look forward to those dates.

The Government established a working group to consider alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use in December 2017. The work programme of the group consisted of meetings with experts from other countries, commissioning research on other jurisdictions and undertaking a public consultation. The consultation process received responses from over 20,000 people and included the views of many people who use drugs. The working group examined the option of decriminalising drugs and did not deem this as an appropriate option in the Irish context due to legal difficulties which could lead to de facto legalisation of drugs as well as operational problems for An Garda Síochána.

The Government accepted the views of the working group on the decriminalisation of drugs and, accordingly, there are no plans to decriminalise drugs. In line with this working group's recommendations, the Government agreed a health-led approach to the possession of drugs for personal use in the form of the health diversion programme. I assure the House that we are in step with other EU member states on this issue as the health diversion programme is aligned with the strategic priority in the EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025 to provide alternatives to coercive sanctions for people who use drugs.

In budget 2022, I secured an additional €6 million for new measures to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy. This includes €700,00 million to commence the implementation of the health diversion programme. It will establish a national network of health screening and brief intervention services for people referred to the programme.

I look forward to the commencement of the health diversion programme which will demonstrate a health-led approach in how we deal with people who use drugs. Deputy Ó Ríordáin is correct. We want to take the stigma out of this issue. The national drugs strategy and the health diversion programme will be a start. I look forward in the coming weeks to the Government and the three party leaders determining a date for a citizens' assembly.

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