Medically supervised injecting centres
Deputy O’Brien asks about the supervised-injecting, mediation and universities Bills; the Taoiseach expects the first two later in the year and promises to provide information on the universities legislation.
I have some questions on legislation. The misuse of drugs (amendment) (No. 2) Bill will establish medically supervised injecting centres. The heads were approved in January but the Bill is not due for pre-legislative scrutiny until autumn. How quickly can we progress this? In addition, the legislation only provides for one unit, which would be based in Dublin. The mediation Bill is to promote mediation as an alternative to the courts. The heads were approved more than four years ago in February 2012. The universities (amendment) Bill concerns guidelines on remuneration allowances and pensions. Again, the heads of that Bill were approved in October 2012.
Comment on this
Regarding the supervised injecting rooms, the Minister for Health expects to bring the relevant Bill before the House in autumn of this year. He made that announcement following his dealing with prescriptive drugs. The mediation Bill will also be published later this year. What was the third Bill about which Deputy O'Brien asked?
Comment on this
The universities (amendment) Bill, the heads of which were approved in October 2012, is about remuneration, allowances and pensions.