Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

While I greatly welcome this motion establishing the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, it is truly shocking that it has taken this long. There are almost two drug-related deaths in Ireland every day, and this rate is almost five times the figure for those who die in road traffic accidents and twice the European average. Now that we have the assembly, it is essential that it is empowered to discuss and examine fully the complex issues involved while learning from the experiences of those affected and effective policies in other jurisdictions.

The Government’s proposal for what the assembly will consider is irresponsibly narrow. It does not cover the impact of criminalisation of drug use and possession, which is a key component of understanding a medicalised approach to drug use. We need to face up not only to the harm caused by drugs, but also the harm of systems that punish addiction. There is no reference to the importance of wraparound services to help individuals to recover from drug addiction. Also missing is the need for an assembly to hear from international best practice around drug policy and operational approaches.

We have a significant opportunity to learn from the success and challenges of Portugal and other countries that have transformed their approaches to drugs, with considerable success. This is a long overdue conversation but, like the other assemblies, it must have a broad remit to examine and discuss all aspects of drugs policy and its impact. Previous citizens’ assemblies and the constitutional convention have proven that the general public, especially when equipped with the facts, are way ahead of the Government on important social issues. Drugs are a social issue, a health issue and a class issue.

I have submitted an amendment to the motion to allow the assembly to have a fuller examination of drugs policy and its impacts on individuals, their families and whole communities. As is, I believe the Government’s wording is too restrictive and it will not facilitate the conversations we desperately need. The strength of the citizens’ assembly model is in giving them the freedom to discuss any topic and make recommendations based on the evidence and their deliberations. Let us give them the widest possible remit to engage critically with this complicated area.

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