Joint Committee on Drugs Use to meet twice this week to discuss decriminalisation, depenalisation, diversion and legalisation

The Joint Committee on Drugs Use will meet twice this week - Tuesday, 9 July, at 7.00 pm and Thursday, 11 July, at 9.30 am - to resume discussion on the decriminalisation, depenalisation, and legalisation of drugs use. The Committee will meet in Committee room 2 on Tuesday and Committee room 1 on Thursday.

Ahead of the meetings, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Michael McNamara said:

"The committee welcomes further discussion on the decriminalisation, depenalisation, diversion, and legalisation of drugs use from national and international experts."

"The Committee is scheduled to meet with Deputy Chief ConstableFiona Wilson on Tuesday, 9 July, to discuss the British Columbiadrug decriminalization model and its effects on Canadian society. Assistant Professor in Criminal Justice of Maynooth University Cian Ó Conchubhair and Nick Glynn, a retired senior police officer, will also address the committee on Thursday, 11 July, on potential decriminalization models."

"The committee is pleased to see the involvement of national and international stakeholders and the emphasis on global best practices that could help Ireland address the challenges of drug use."

The Joint Committee on Drugs Use has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

Watch the Committee proceedings live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.