Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. It teases out the difference between the evaluation and the consultation. I have some queries that I will follow up on with the Minister of State regarding the consultation, as some people felt that the Department was very top down instead of asking the community and inviting people in, so the community and voluntary sectors did not get to set the parameters of what that consultation looked like, meaning it was a little tight and was not kept open ended.

It is good to hear that the citizens' assembly report will be taken into consideration rather than the submissions being examined again. The Minister of State might request that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use interim report on drugs be taken into consideration because that was the next step after the citizens' assembly. It was a Government decision to have that committee, which means that the interim report and its contents have support from all parties and none. That should also set a basis for the consultation. I will email any other outstanding questions to the Minister of State directly.