Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Perhaps the matter needs a further conversation.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended in 1984 and 2015, and the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010, are Oireachtas Acts that regulate drugs in this State. These Acts define the penalties for the unlawful production, possession and supply of drugs.

Sinn Féin has voted to support both sets of legislation in both 2010 and 2015. Our party believes that the misuse of drugs should be treated as a public health matter rather than being about the criminalisation of addicts. We favour a holistic and health-based approach to addiction. It is effective and needed.

I want to make it crystal clear that my party has many reservations and severe misgivings about this amendment. We believe it should be taken in isolation rather than being part of a suite of measures issued before us for consideration.

Within the Misuse of Drugs Act substances are scheduled in accordance with this State's obligations under international conventions. Where there is evidence that they cause significant harm to public health in Ireland then we must act. The list of scheduled substances has been kept under review. Action is taken in cases where evidence emerges that substances are being abused and causing significant harm. This is what we are here to debate. As legislators, we must have due regard to any review and the action being requested. The purpose of the Government's amendment is to include prescription drugs, that are commonly known as benzos or Zs, a certain headshop and designer drugs, such as Clockwork Orange, to the existing legislation.

Drugs have a devastating impact on our communities, families and the unfortunate addicts. As suggested by Fianna Fáil, these drugs have overtaken heroin in their usage. There is no difference between dealing in these drugs and dealing in heroin. Drug addiction can be found in every county. Parts of inner city Dublin have been described as an open air supermarket for drugs with dealers feeding on the pain, needs and wants of addicts created by them in the first place. Mams and dads throughout the inner city of Dublin and in my area of Dublin south-central, can stand at the gates to their houses and see young children and adults being used as runners for the drug barons who remain hidden but make a fortune. Parents are afraid to let their children out of their homes. They are fearful that their children will be influenced by what they see on the street. Parents try to shield their children from this reality but that is often impossible. This scourge of drugs is intolerable and unacceptable.

There is an onus on the Government to provide the Garda with powers to tackle the supply of drugs, including the abuse of prescription drugs, and to resource agencies and community groups to tackle drug taking in the community. The Government must also support addicts and users along their road to recovery, not hinder them. When communities get together civic pride takes over and people realise that their place matters. Some of them clean up their areas on a seasonal basis. The bags of debris that are collected contain piles of empty blister packets that once contained benzos such as diazepam, zimovane and zopiclone. Communities are disheartened by their discoveries. People pick up the empty packets and recycle them but the problem remains. Children may pick up the discarded empty packets and think the contents must be special. People are afraid their children will be attracted to the buzz generated by such drugs. Children are especially at risk of emulating the behaviour of younger adults who are involved in this trade.

The Bill on its own will not tackle the scourge of drugs and put the major drug dealers out of business. The Bill is only targeted at a small section of the problem. Proscribing drugs will have no impact unless it is backed up by resolute action to tackle dealers. Communities must receive investment because they have been alienated by successive Governments and the problem has been allowed to fester. The Bill will fail in its aims unless it is matched with additional investment, resources and services.

Sinn Féin, after careful consideration, will vote in favour of the legislation on Second Stage in order to allow it proceed to Committee Stage. At that time we will table meaningful amendments, as is necessary, to strengthen the legislation in line with the vision we set out in a policy document A Better Health Policy for All.