James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a doctor who has worked for the past 34 years as a general practitioner as well as several years in Oberstown dealing with young people who had fallen foul of the courts and had drug addiction problems, I believe strongly - most Senators do - that this is a health issue and should be treated as such. I have received many emails from people who work in this field all over the country whom I admire and whose work I admire. I believe in the principle of what the Bill tries to achieve and support that. We need a system outside of the courts that can deal with this as a health issue.

As an aside, I heard today of a doctor who had been addicted for several years but has since recovered and is now a well-respected specialist in that doctor's field.The only reason I make the point is that it reminds me of how many people can recover to lead very productive lives, be very much part of society, have families and children, and contribute. I genuinely do not believe that putting people in jail or giving them a criminal record is the way to deal with this issue. I particularly think of younger people who, whether we like it or not, are going to experiment with life. To be caught and have a criminal record which stays with them and prevents them from travelling internationally to certain areas and which makes employment a much more difficult challenge for them is clearly wrong.

I want very much to support the principles behind this Bill. I know there are problems with it and that we have agreed we will adjourn its progress. Like Senator Colm Burke, I would be very much committed to making sure this Bill does progress and that we do not have a situation like I had myself. As was mentioned, back in 2009, I had a very simple Bill in regard to medical insurance for doctors before they could register as doctors, and it only passed last week, despite the fact I had been Minister for Health myself. We have to overcome the difficulties that can arise. I agree with Senator Boyhan that we are here to do a job and we should do a job. We should do it in order that we can benefit the people we are here to represent. Given we have cross-party support for this issue, I believe we can decriminalise this area and give people who become addicted to both legal and illegal drugs, but especially illegal drugs, a real future, a real chance and real support, and that we show real compassion. We will all be the better for it and the richer for it too.