Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Can the Leader schedule a debate in the House on the implementation of the national drugs strategy? A debate on that is being held in the Dáil and it should also occur here given that the consultation process on decriminalisation is taking place. Perhaps that could be arranged for before the summer recess. On a related issue, I invite Senators to a briefing I am holding next Tuesday. It will involve a group of service users who have been in and out of drugs services for many years, including methadone clinics. They have joined with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to produce an in-depth report on what they see as human rights abuses for them as service users. They are coming here to launch the report for the Oireachtas. It will be a good opportunity to talk face-to-face with them, a human rights commissioner and a doctor. The report, entitled "Our Life, Our Voice, Our Say", makes 28 recommendations. One of them refers to supervised urine tests and how degrading and inhumane it is to have to do this constantly with doctors and in clinics. I urge Members to come along at 11.30 a.m. on 3 July to support them and hear what they have to say.