Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for the information that he has provided thus far on this important issue.

I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, on her appointment as the new Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy. Last month, her predecessor, Deputy Feighan, reiterated the Government's commitment to holding a citizens' assembly on drugs in early 2023. Last week, the Taoiseach also confirmed that he will bring forward a proposal in the coming weeks, but we need more than that now. We need to hear a timeline and a date for the establishment of the citizens' assembly. It is almost three years since the programme for Government committed to holding this citizens' assembly and we are still no closer to a definitive date. As the Taoiseach will be aware, the Joint Committee on Justice recently undertook research on the current legal position on possession. I hope the Taoiseach can confirm today that the recommendations made in that report will inform the terms of reference of a citizens' assembly. Hopefully, that work has begun. Will the Taoiseach lay out the timeline for the citizens' assembly on drugs to take place?

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