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

I move amendment No. 2:

To delete all words from "policy and operational changes the State could make to significantly" down to and including “increasing resilience, health and well-being; and;” and substitute the following: "improve its response to drugs use and abuse, and the outcomes in relation to drugs use and abuse, to reduce the harmful impacts of drugs and the criminalisation of drugs on individuals, families, communities and wider society, and to bring forward recommendations in this regard; the Assembly shall consider, inter alia:

— the drivers, prevalence, attitudes and trends in relation to drugs use in Irish society;

— the impacts of drugs use on individuals, families, communities and wider society;

— the impacts of criminalisation of drugs use and possession, and convictions for drugs use and possession, on individuals, families, communities and wider society;

— the potential for, and prevalence of, safe, social, recreational drugs use by individuals;

— best practice in promoting and supporting rehabilitation and recovery from drug addiction;

— the potential benefits of promoting a harm-reduction approach to drugs policy, including through the provision of certain supports including, inter alia, safe-injection and safe-consumption facilities, and medication-assisted treatments for drug addiction;

— the opportunities to improve the number and diversity of wraparound supports available to individuals who use drugs including, inter alia, detox and aftercare facilities, and other supports which can assist individuals in their recovery from drug addiction;

— the lived experience of young people and adults affected by drugs use, as well as their families and communities;

— the perspectives of the general public, representative groups, advocacy groups, experts and policy makers on drugs use and its impacts;

— international, European Union, national and local research and perspectives on drugs use;

— the efficacy of current strategic, policy and operational responses to drugs use;

— international best practice and practical case studies in relation to regulation of supply of drugs, and the impact of relevant legislative, policy and operational responses;

— international best practice and practical case studies in relation to increasing resilience, health and well-being in relation to drugs use;

— the opportunities to promote greater public understanding of, and support for, a health-led approach to drugs use; and".

See this speech in context