Oireachtas Committees
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-09
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Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (FF), Carlow-Kilkenny

No.
I thank the Deputy again for her work on the drugs committee. The vast majority of the 161 recommendations will be in the new drugs strategy but one of the recommendations was on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. It falls under section 3. That legalises drugs. It is important we tell the people of the concern. The programme for Government reaffirms the Government’s commitment to a health-led approach to drug use and to divert those found in possession of drugs for personal use to health services. I, and the Minister for justice and the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, have agreed a health referral scheme, which will commence in September. The Minister and I, working with the Minister for justice, Deputy O’Callaghan, are looking at 1 September for the new drugs strategy and the new health referral scheme working together.
As the Deputy said, this is about the most vulnerable in our society. I have visited most services around the country. I see the affect drugs have on people and their families. It is so important that we get this right. I assure the Deputy that the Minister and I are 100% committed to this.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-09