Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-02
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Laura Harmon (LAB), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I want to speak briefly on this topic to put my thoughts on it on record. I have concerns about the increase in the number of criminal convictions we may see of people who will have drugs on them for personal use. I echo the comments of Senator Higgins in relation to the health-led approach. We need to take into account that many people have repeated convictions for drug use because they are stuck in a cycle of addiction. That is not of their own choice. If we are to repeatedly convict them, that will not contribute to a health-led approach to this issue. We need to be mindful of that. I have serious concerns about this measure as regards testing.
I acknowledge the point the Minister made in relation to drug use in public places. As part of the broader debate, I will put my thoughts on injection centres on record. We have the injection centre in Merchants Quay in Dublin. We need to see that replicated in other areas, such as Cork. These are places where drug use can happen in a safe environment. For example, alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs in the world. We have places for the use of that. We need to look at how we deal with alcohol. For example, if somebody is obviously disorderly in public, they can be convicted. Is there an element of that when we are speaking about drug use?
I wanted to speak broadly on the health-led approach. We need to have a broader debate on that in the Oireachtas.
The Joint Committee on Drugs Use has done great work in relation to this. The Minister referenced British Columbia and Oregon in relation to these issues. I do not know if we have seen how the evidence there would apply to Ireland. There needs to be further debate on that. I know that is outside the scope of what we are discussing for this particular piece.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-02/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:09+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-02