Oireachtas committee could pave way for drug decriminalisation

Ireland’s justice committee could pave the way for the decriminalisation of drug possession, the minister of state with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy has said.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin made the remarks while speaking at an international workshop on drugs policy at the London School of Economics (LSE).

He told the workshop there was “an emerging debate in Ireland” on how to approach the possession of small quantities of drugs, adding: “I am in favour of a decriminalisation model, but it must be one that suits the Irish context and be evidence based.”

Mr Ó Ríordáin has since told the Irish Times that he believes the support of the Oireachtas justice committee is critical to creating the right political environment for the move.

Three members and the chair of the justice committee recently visited Portugal to gather evidence about the decriminalisation of drug possession there.

Mr Ó Ríordáin said: “If the justice committee agrees that decriminalisation is where we want to go, that takes the political football out of it.

“That means that every political party and none who are represented on that committee are in favour of decriminalisation.”

However, he added: “I think if we’re going to introduce decriminalisation in Ireland it will take a number of years to get the systems in place to deliver it effectively.

“Because it is a major policy shift, it does require an awful lot of debate, research and understanding that the dynamics in Ireland are very different to the dynamics in Portugal.

“But as a model, I think it’s a progressive way forward. I think it’s much more humane and I think it makes absolute sense if you have 70 per cent of your drug convictions for possession for personal use. Those resources could be much better used tackling the pushers not the takers.”