Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said yesterday, the agreement of the three parties in the programme for Government was that we would commence a number of citizens' assemblies. Due to Covid-19 we were not in a position to do that. In terms of two of the commitments, one has been established on biodiversity, which is a crisis, and likewise with regard to the Dublin mayor, which had been agreed. As regards drugs policy, it is our view that we will have a citizens' assembly in the latter part of this year. However, that does not mean there is nothing happening with drugs policy. It is an urgent and serious issue that has to be dealt with in the context of a community-up approach, with multidisciplinary supports going into the communities most affected, along with a health-based approach. In any event, we are very seized of the serious situation in many communities as a result of drug abuse.

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