Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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345. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the establishment of a working group to examine drug testing at nightclubs and music festivals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11720/19]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Government policy in relation to drug and alcohol addiction services is set out in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery-a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025 (RHSR).

There is a specific action in RHSR which commits the HSE to establishing a working group to examine the evidence in relation to early harm reduction responses including drug checking at festivals, amnesty bins and media campaigns, current and emerging trends in relation to the use of new psychoactive substances and image and performance enhancing drugs.

It is anticipated that the HSE will establish this working group in Quarter 2 of 2019. It is also anticipated that the working group will draw together the relevant stakeholders and examine the available evidence and best practice models from other countries.