Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the formation of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use. Can the microphone be turned on?

I have co-signed the amendments put forward by Deputy Cairns and I, supported by Senator Ruane. Ireland's drug policy has never achieved what it set out to achieve. There are thousands of convictions each year, the majority of which are around personal use. Young people face the brunt of this and it sees thousands criminalised in their youth and facing serious and permanent obstacles in their futures. There has never been any benefit to criminalising children or young people.

I am a member of the Canal Communities Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force. For decades, community-led organisations working around drug use have known that it is a rehabilitative and health-led approach that makes real differences in the lives of those affected by drug use and addiction. The current drug policies are a significant block to the hard work of many who are working in health services and in their communities. It is not a coincidence that those who work closest to the ground and organisations such as the CityWide drugs crisis campaign, Ana Liffey Drug Project and Youth Workers Against Prohibition, are at the forefront of calling for decriminalisation, or illegalisation of drugs use.

People on the ground know that the first step to move our drug policy to a health and rehabilitation-led approach is to remove the punitive approach in our legal system. I support the amendments brought forward. As much as I welcome the citizens' assembly, this motion is far too tilted towards the status quo, when it is time for a debate and real change in this matter. The consensus on a health-led approach is there. There is no need to put any qualifications on this. I support the call to include a broader range of research perspectives and advocacy groups to the assembly. There is a clear consensus on a health-led approach, both from the recent Oireachtas committee and from advocacy and community groups. This should be at the centre of the assembly's considerations.

I support the call for this to be a consideration of the impact of criminalisation, not just to be a consideration of the impact of drug use. There needs to be an understanding of how the current policy has worsened the lives of many in communities affected by addiction. I support the call to promote greater public awareness and understanding. We have had decades of punitive and criminalising approach to drugs use and this has failed, but it has a hangover effect on how the public see drug use and addiction. We need to end the stigma and marginalisation. I support the call for a harm-reduction model, with a greater range and diversity of supports. How much money has been wasted on convictions and locking people up? These resources need to be put back into services and communities in a way that starts to reverse the harm caused by current policy.

Issues around drug use and addiction are the symptom, not the cause of issues affecting our communities.

While the establishment of this assembly is a welcome move, we cannot get rid of the problems around drugs use without getting rid of the deep poverty, neglect and inequality that has plagued many communities for decades. We need proper supports and resources around addiction, but this must be part of a wider reaction to poverty and inequality. I support the motion and ask the Minister of State to comment on the inclusion of the amendments in the name of Deputy Gould and in my name and that of Deputy Cairns.

See this speech in context