Amnesty and NGOs sign letter calling for Citizens’ Assembly on drugs to be held this year
Amnesty and NGOs sign letter calling for Citizens’ Assembly on drugs to be held this year
Words: Eva O’Beirne
The Department of Health has previously stated that an assembly will not happen this year, as was previously expected.
Senator Lynn Ruane has written an open letter, calling on the Government to convene a citizens’ assembly on drugs in 2022, saying “communities simply cannot wait any longer for progress on drug reform”.
Amnesty Ireland, several NGOs and both Government and Opposition TDs have signed the open letter to Taoiseach Micheál Martin asking for the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs to be held this year.
“We are issuing a call to the Government to immediately set a firm date for a Citizens’ Assembly on drugs this year. We simply cannot wait any longer,” it said.
You can read the full letter here.
Among those who have signed the open letter are the Psychological Society of Ireland, the director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties Liam Herrick, the CEO of Amnesty Ireland Colm O’Gorman, and the CEO of Mental Health Reform group Fiona Coyle.
Politicians who have signed the letter include Holly Cairns, Nessa Hourigan and Patrick Costello, as well as eighteen other TDs and thirteen senators.
The assembly is expected to happen in 2023.
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