Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have responsibility for the national drug strategy. We have established a citizens' assembly, which will meet in April and report back to the Oireachtas by the end of the year. In Government, we have a health-led approach to drug addiction, trying to reduce harm and examining every aspect, such as the areas Deputy Ó Cuív raised, in how we deal with drug addiction and use in Ireland. We must look at best international practice in this area. Experts will address the citizens' assembly. We must make sure the assembly examines all aspects such as criminality, how we deal with helping people in rehabilitation, the health-led approach, as well as the criminal aspects. We look forward to that important deliberative process which will take place over the next few months.

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