Labour calls for immediate action on drug decriminalisation recommendations
Labour calls for immediate action on drug decriminalisation recommendations - The Labour Party
Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has called on the Government to urgently commit to implementing the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Drug Use, following the publication today of its landmark report recommending the decriminalisation of possession of all drugs for personal use.
Raising the matter directly with the Taoiseach in the Dáil, Deputy Bacik said that the Government can no longer delay action on a health-led approach to substance use and that it must now set out a clear timeline for reform.
Deputy Bacik said:
“People struggling with addiction need support, treatment and healthcare, not criminal records that follow them for life. Too many people in addiction are also grappling with poverty, trauma, mental ill-health and structural discrimination. Criminalisation does nothing to address those challenges. Instead, it can push people further from employment, housing and the supports they need to recover.
“The evidence from Ireland and internationally is increasingly clear. Treating drug use as a criminal justice issue has not worked. More people are experiencing addiction, more families are being impacted by substance misuse, and more lives are being lost to overdose. Criminal sanctions are not an effective public health response to addiction.
“In the Dáil today, I challenged the Taoiseach on whether the Government will now act on the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Drug Use to decriminalise possession of drugs for personal use. His response was deeply disappointing. He failed to engage with the central question of when the Government intends to act, and offered no timeline for implementing these recommendations.
“When Labour brought forward proposals to decriminalise drug users in 2025, this Government told us to wait for the Committee’s report. That report has now been published. The evidence has been gathered, the recommendations have been made, and the case for reform is overwhelming. There can be no further excuses for delay.
“Labour is calling on the Government to commit without delay to implementing the Committee’s recommendations and to publish a clear timeline for reform. This report cannot be left gathering dust on a shelf. People affected by addiction, their families and communities deserve a response that is based on evidence, dignity and healthcare. They deserve better, and the Government must act now.”