Drug harm reduction legislation
Deputy Curran pressed for supervised facilities and regulation for harm-reduction services for IV drug users. The Tánaiste said work was under way and the legislation was expected this term.
The Tánaiste will be aware that there is an increasing problem with drug abuse and, in particular, with IV drug use. Part of the solution which was envisaged was to enable the licensing and establishment of supervised facilities for chronic drug users and to provide for regulation for such harm reduction facilities. I understand that, earlier in the year, there was a Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (No. 1) Bill. This was welcomed at the time because it dealt with "benzos" and the plan was to deal with IV users and "benzos" together. The "benzo" issue was tackled in the first Bill as a matter of priority but the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill to deal with IV drug users and facilities is needed. The issue needs to be dealt with on a pilot basis and we need to learn from it. When is the legislation due and is it dependent on the publication of the national drugs strategy?
