Where Does Each Party Stand On Drug Law
Words: Izzy Copestake
Ireland has the highest level of drug deaths in the entire EU, suffering a fatality rate four times the EU average. The European Drug Report 2024 revealed that Ireland experiences approximately 97 deaths per million people, compared to the EU average of 22.5. Drug reform, policymaking, and government funding are among the most significant tools for tackling drug-related harm.
Last October, there was some hope for change on the horizon. The newly formed Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs released its findings, which stated that all drugs should be decriminalised in favour of a “health-based approach.” The findings were met with enthusiasm, with the chair of the committee, Paul Reid, stating: “This is the most comprehensive, wide-ranging, and representative discussion on all aspects of drugs that has ever happened in Ireland.” Despite the committee’s clear recommendation that a new national drugs strategy be implemented “as a matter of urgency,” the Department of Health has delayed releasing a draft, let alone implementing a new strategy.
The government has dragged its heels on the recommendation, but what does the future of drugs policy look like post-election? We reviewed the manifestos of Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and Aontú to examine their positions on these critical issues.
Sinn Féin
Plans to implement a five-year Community Addiction and Recovery Strategy, which plans for historic high levels of funding to “regional drug and alcohol task forces” and investment in community addiction and recovery inpatient capacity.
Read the full manifesto here.
Fine Gael
Emphasises a “health-led” approach
Plans for increased CCTV to target open drug use
Plans to expand the Garda Dog Unit with at least 200 dogs trained in drug detection
Plans to “dismantle criminal gangs”
Plans for increased funding for addiction services, with a focus on young people facing drug dependency and mental health issues.
Plans to launch a major awareness campaign to raise awareness about the dangers illicit drugs pose to society
Plans for increased funding for local drug and alcohol taskforces
Plans to consider mobile medically supervised injecting facilities.
Plans to prep for overdose incidents by increasing the availability of naloxone (a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose), train individuals on its use, and equip Gardaí with naloxone to carry on the beat.
Plans to evaluate the national drugs strategy and publish a successor strategy to guide future efforts.
Plans to re-establish the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use
Plans to increase funding for harm reduction, with a focus on providing a rapid response to the threat of synthetic drugs.
Read the full manifesto here.
Fianna Fáil
Emphasises that drug use is a public health issue.
Plans to decriminalise drug possession for personal use.
Plans to publish a formal national position on cannabis regulation following engagement with other countries and health professionals.
Plans to introduce legislation to require those found in possession of illegal drugs for personal use to attend educational or treatment programmes.
Plans to work with international bodies on drugs policy, including the British-Irish Council, the European Union, the new Drugs Agency, and the Council of Europe to ensure strategic alignment of policies on drug use.
Plans to implement an Urban Communities Initiative focused on city centres and the areas of highest disadvantage, to implement community development planning, schemes for disadvantaged youth and expanded education programmes.
Plans to intensify Ireland’s partnership with Interpol, Europol, and other international agencies to detect the illicit trafficking of drugs before they enter the Irish market.
Plans for unmanned drones to patrol Ireland’s coast and detect the trafficking of illegal drugs.
Plans for increased Garda monitoring digital channels that are being used for drug distribution.
Plans for increase sentences for those involved in the supply of drugs.
Read the full manifesto here
Green Party
Emphasises a health-led approach to drugs policy.
Plans to support the decriminalisation of all drug users and the legalisation and regulation of cannabis
Plans to retain a dedicated Cabinet Committee, chaired by the Taoiseach, to ensure a whole-of-government response.
Plans to engage with drug users and stakeholders in policy design and implementation.
Plans to prioritise disadvantaged communities and prisoners in drugs policy.
Plans to introduce drug-checking facilities at festivals and provide safe consumption rooms.
Read the full manifesto here
Labour
Emphasises a mental health led approach
Plans to decriminalise drug users
Plans to repeal Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, introduce a new National Drugs Strategy and act on the other recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly and interim committee report.
Plans to direct additional resources to local Drug and Alcohol task forces which provide vital frontline services in deprived communities.
Plans for new initiatives to support rural communities, “Drug use is not just an urban problem”
Plans to secure permenent funding for the DRIVE programme; a community-based project that supports people suffering from drug related intimidation.
Read the full manifesto here.
Social Democrats
Plans to tackle socio-economic and educational disadvantage in relation to drug use
Emphasis on creating a policy which does not create shame and stigma
Plans for a policy of decriminalisation in respect of the possession of drugs for personal consumption.
Plans to resource and expand drug treatment services, including detox beds.
Plans to explore policies that treat drug addiction primarily as a health issue rather than a criminal one, integrating addiction treatment more closely with mental health services.
Increase the core budgets of Community Drugs Projects.
Read the full manifesto here.
People Before Profit
Manifesto emphasises the correlation between drugs, particularly crack cocaine and heroin, with social disadvantage, and highlights that “an effective drugs policy needs to tackle the material causes of these forms of drug taking instead of targeting vulnerable drug users with criminalisation.”
Plans to immediately legalise cannabis and promote Not for Profit Cannabis Social Clubs.
Plans to further fund the Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, as well as services for drug users and their families, including counselling, occupational therapy, social support and psychotherapy to reduce the reliance on multiple drug prescriptions and illegal drugs.
Plans to increase funding for a public health educational campaign on drugs;
Plans to expand the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme;
Plans to establish a State run distribution services with high levels of regulation and supervision including proper funding for needle exchange;
Plans to move towards a strategy of de-criminalisation of drugs. “This will allow for drug dependence to be treated as a medical issue rather than as a policing issue.”
Read the full manifesto here
Aontú
Aontú
Manifesto clearly emphasises they will not legalise or decriminalise the use of drugs for recreational purposes.
Plans to invest in community centres, community sports facilities, drug rehabilitation, mental health services and interventions.
Plans to take advice from the medical profession on the use of cannabis for medical reasons.
Plans to provide both a legal and health-based approach for people suffering from drug addiction.
Plans to review the accessibility of in-patient rehabilitation and detoxification services across the state to ensure that those who need them can access them without excessive travel.
Plans to fund community addiction support groups for families and loved ones
Plans to invest in community detoxification and rehab services and facilities for young people in every city in the state.
Read the full manifesto here
