An Oireachtas (Irish parliament) joint committee recommends decriminalising the possession of all drugs for personal use in Ireland. Multiple outlets report that the committee reached the conclusion after reviewing evidence and consulting on a criminal-justice approach to drug use, with the deputy chair citing that this approach has “not worked well enough.”
RTE and other coverage say the recommendation is contained in the committee’s report, published this week, and that it would apply to personal possession across all drugs categories. BreakingNews.ie and the Irish Independent also highlight the committee’s view that a different framework is needed.
Other reporting notes that the committee’s stance aligns with an earlier finding from Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use, which had reached similar recommendations two years earlier. Several outlets stress that the committee’s proposal is not yet law, and that the government’s response is cautious, with further steps required for any change to legislation.
