Just Say Yes

at

 

This afternoon.

Government Buildings, Dublin 2

The launch of the Controlled Drugs and Harm Reduction Bill 2017, tabled by Independent Senator Lynn Ruane (top right.)

The bill, co-signed by former Minister of State for the National Drugs Strategy Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and supported by the Labour Party, the Green Party and a “significant number of independent senators” would make three major reforms to Ireland’s drug laws:

Decriminalise the possession of controlled drugs for personal use, allow for the Minister for Health to set ‘personal use’ and decriminalise addiction.

Establishes a Drug Dissuasion Service to case-manage people found in possession of controlled drugs and to divert people away from the courts.

Provides for a system of harm reduction measures for those found in possession including drug awareness, drug rehabilitation and community engagement programmes.

The bill will debated tomorrow in the Seanad.

More as we get it.

FIGHT!

Top from left: Niamh Eastwood (Release) Anna Quigley (Citywide) Niall Neligan (Fweed) Emily Reaper and Senator Lynn Ruane.

Lynn Ruane (Facebook)

Pic via Fweed

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17 thoughts on “Just Say Yes

  1. nellyb

    Ó Ríordáin has been at it for a while, not too precious for meeting and talking to people with additions on the streets. I am glad he & co are moving forward. Coveney would have passed out from exotic smells in Dublin corners :-)
    Go Aodhán!

  2. Jake38

    What we’re currently doing is obviously a complete waste of time judging by what you see on the Red Line Luas, so I’m all for trying something different.

  3. AlcoholActionIreland

    I feel these ‘injection centres’ are another misguided experiment. Availability reduction is the key to harm reduction, men hostels where substances are banned and more resources given to customs etc

    1. scottser

      they’re not really an experiment, as they work well in other jurisdictions as part of a range of measures to reduce the harm related to drug use. It’s not a measure designed to eliminate drug use, only to make drug use safer. you don’t get more reductive than banning a substance outright and that clearly hasn’t worked. also, banning homeless drug users from emergency accommodations means more drug use and fatalities out in the open.
      if you want to tackle this problem you need a suite of options and tools. customs resourcing is only one of them. on the user’s end you have to agree that if someone must use, then it should be done as safely as possible.

    2. Clampers Outside

      Are you suggesting even more be invested in the war on drugs?

      Sounds daft after decades of wasted money and countless deaths, in fairness, if that’s what you are suggesting…

    3. MoyestWithExcitement

      “Availability reduction is the key to harm reduction”

      It really, REALLY, isn’t. Reducing availability of something doesn’t stop people wanting it. In fact, it often *increases* desire for it. Reducing that desire and wanting is what is key. Also, reducing availability CLEARLY hasn’t worked.

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