Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about a possible date for the proposed citizens' assembly on drugs. The issue of drugs has been once again brought to the fore by two matters in particular, the first being the episode of "Prime Time" broadcast last night which discussed the matter in detail and the second being the unfortunate comments yesterday of a Government Deputy which reduced people suffering serious addiction abuse to a single derogatory and hateful term that I will not repeat. We need a new approach to drugs. Some 50 years after heroin first penetrated the north inner city, are we still going to criminalise people for their addictions or can we have a more tolerant and humane approach? If that starts with a citizens' assembly, so be it, but we should do it with urgency.

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