Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 108: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will prepare legislation providing for the State to adopt a similar classification of drug substances to the British system where drugs are grouped on the basis of their harmfulness to the person and to society as recommended by the Drug Policy Action Group. [41983/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am aware of the report of the Drug Policy Action Group "Criminal Justice Drug Policy in Ireland" to which the Deputy refers.

I understand that the UK system divides different kinds of illegal drugs into three categories, or classes. These classes (A, B and C) carry different levels of penalty for possession and dealing. Class A drugs are those considered most harmful and are subject to the most severe penalties, including up to seven years in prison for possession and up to life in prison for dealing.

Under our Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988, drugs are classified in 5 Schedules according to the level of controls applicable to them, which in turn depends on the degree to which the drugs have a legitimate medical use, and the degree to which they have potential for abuse. Drugs in Schedule 1 have no legitimate medicinal use and it is an offence to supply or possess them. Drugs in Schedules 2 and 3 have a legitimate medicinal use but are prone to abuse and are the subject of prescription, supply, manufacturing, import and export controls. Drugs in Schedules 4 and 5 have lesser abuse potential and are subject to lesser controls.

Under our Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984, the various offences that have been created have penalties associated with them depending on the seriousness of the offence. These range from up to life imprisonment in the case of serious crimes involving drugs to the lowest penalties, which are available in the case of the possession of cannabis for personal use. Thus the current means of classification under Irish law allows the Courts an appropriate basis for dealing with drug crime and it is unnecessary to adopt the UK approach in this area.