The Taoiseach said he will give “careful consideration” to any recommendations to reform the country’s drugs laws ahead of the publication of a report by the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use.
Leo Varadkar said the ‘war on drugs’ strategy and the criminalisation of drug users has not worked.
Mr Varadkar is meeting the chair of the assembly, Paul Reid, on Thursday as it publishes the final report.
The Fine Gael leader said he will wait for the Oireachtas to consider the contents of the report before commenting on it.
People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny said the report has made 30 recommendations calling for reform of the State’s drug policy.
“The assembly stated that drug use and misuse was a public health issue rather than a criminal bond, and overall, the sentiment is that the status quo of criminalisation does not work,” Mr Kenny told the Dáil.
“This policy of criminalisation has been the state’s default position for the past six decades.
“That has stigmatised, marginalised and criminalised not only individuals but communities across the country.
“But now we have a better understanding of addiction and the reasons why people fall into addictions.
“It’s a very complex issue, but we have a more holistic kind of approach to why that happens and there’s factors such as poverty, disadvantage and deep trauma that goes on in people’s lives that people turn to.”
He added: “Ireland has one of the highest overdose drug-related deaths in Europe.
“In the North of Ireland, there is an explosion of people dying in relation to drug-related deaths.
“So something needs to happen. Other countries have done it differently in relation to safe consumption rooms and I think that needs to be done as quickly as possible.
“If it saves one life, literally one person, then it’s worth changing the course in relation to criminalising people.”
He said the key part of the report was legislative change.
“We have the Misuse of Drugs Act since the 1970s, criminalising people, sending people through the criminal justice system, sending people through the courts, sending people to jail, it doesn’t work,” he added.
Mr Varadkar said drug use should be seen primarily as a public health issue, not a criminal justice matter.
“But that is very different from drug dealing, for example, and the production of illegal medicines and drugs,” he added.
“I certainly think that shaming people and blaming people and criminalising people isn’t an effective policy and has largely been rejected by the public, particularly younger people.
“If it was the case that that approach and the war on drugs and just say no was a successful policy, it would have been successful 40 years ago, and it hasn’t worked. I think we all need to admit that.”
He added: “We’ll have to give careful consideration to any kind of legal change and that’s our job. That’s going to take a bit of work and a bit of advice.”
Speaking ahead of the report launch, the assembly's chair Paul Reid said: “I look forward to presenting the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use report to the Oireachtas and the public.
“This report has been put together through the efforts of all members, whom I have had the privilege to listen to, debate, and discuss the varied accounts and presentations over the course of our time together.
“I want to thank all members who attended the assembly, and all those who spoke at our meetings or made submissions.
“The assembly’s recommendations are a strong call of action to the Government that the State needs to take a far more comprehensive and coherent approach to drugs use in Ireland.
“It asks those in Government to pivot from the status quo and ask larger and more ambitious questions about decriminalisation, diversion and dissuasion. It is urgent that drugs policy be given greater priority as many people in this country cannot afford to wait any longer.”
