Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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235. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, in its report of November 2015 on a harm-reducing and rehabilitative approach to possession of small amounts of illegal drugs, made a number of recommendations; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that recommendation No. 6 recommended that research be undertaken to ensure the adoption of any alternative approach be appropriate in an Irish context; if recommendation No. 6 has been acted on and if research has been undertaken; if the research has been concluded; if the research is available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31348/16]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on a harm reducing and rehabilitative approach to possession of small amounts of illegal drugs which was published in November 2015.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to supporting a health-led rather than a criminal justice approach to drugs use. It is envisaged that the question of how best to achieve this approach to drug use will be among a range of issues that will be considered by the Steering Committee, established to advise me on a new National Drugs Strategy.

I expect to receive a final report from the Steering Committee early in the new year.