James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House again and thank Senator Ruane for raising this important issue through the Bill. She has told us of her personal life experience of this issue and is passionate about it. Having worked with the Minister of State for many years, I know her also to be someone with tremendous passion about it as well as considerable compassion. I cannot think of anyone better to be responsible for this area in government.

The national drug strategy group is due to report within weeks. Senator Boyhan is right, in that we are legislators with a duty to legislate, but we also have a duty to ensure that our laws are sound and do not bring about unforeseen consequences. Already, there is a strong view that the Bill could, as currently construed, not just decriminalise this issue, but legalise drugs, which is not something that we would want to see.