{"id":24635,"date":"2022-01-02T09:06:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-02T14:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24635"},"modified":"2022-01-02T09:19:59","modified_gmt":"2022-01-02T14:19:59","slug":"hopes-of-citizens-assembly-on-drug-use-this-year-grows-for-campaigners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24635","title":{"rendered":"Hopes Of Citizens Assembly On Drug Use This Year Grows For Campaigners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Campaigners believe that Government is now serious about holding a citizen-led discussion on drugs very soon (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Campaigners are increasingly confident that a citizens\u2019 assembly on drug use could take place this year in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PA news agency reports that a citizen assembly on the issue could take place in the spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The three coalition parties, upon entering Government in 2020, committed to holding a citizens\u2019 assembly on drug use, which advocates say could be a major opportunity to rethink drug policy in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citizens\u2019 assemblies have increasingly played a key role in Irish politics in recent years, especially in the build-up in the landmark referendum in 2018 that removed the country\u2019s constitutional ban on abortion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government has, as of yet, given no indication publicly as to when such a citizens\u2019 assembly will take place, with another assembly on biodiversity also promised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, campaigners believe that Government is now serious about holding a citizen-led discussion on drugs very soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dublin Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan, who worked to get the commitment to a citizens\u2019 assembly in the coalition agreement document, told PA: \u201cIn my constituency, there\u2019s very little that\u2019s more important than drug policy. It\u2019s a huge impact on the inner city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe reform of drugs legislation is a complex area and not one where we necessarily share the views of our coalition partner,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe felt the drugs citizens\u2019 assembly was an excellent and objective way forward that could provide for evidence-based and person-focused change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that forum, she believes that the voices of ordinary citizens, as opposed to experts and policymakers, are heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe good thing about citizens\u2019 assemblies is that they are predicated on listening and listening to communities and listening to people who are actually affected,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think if you actually talk to people and explain to them the problems and the challenges people are facing, they\u2019re in fact not particularly conservative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think Irish people are incredibly compassionate and also very practical.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Hourigan acknowledges that the real work often begins after a citizens\u2019 assembly, to ensure that recommendations are listened to by the Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campaigners are also adamant that the citizens\u2019 assembly should not focus on issues like cigarettes or alcohol, with others also warning that an undue focus on the regulation of cannabis might also prove a distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s a concern that this wouldn\u2019t become a citizen assembly on the legalization of cannabis,\u201d Ms Hourigan says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent Senator Lynn Ruane agrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think what\u2019s important is that when we ask a question, we\u2019re not naming specific drugs, and we\u2019re not naming alcohol or cigarettes or stuff like that,\u201d she told PA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me, it\u2019s about drug use and harmful policy and that harmful policy hasn\u2019t been reviewed in many, many years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She is also confident that the Government might be listening and willing to hold a citizens\u2019 assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A long-time campaigner for drug reform in Ireland, she says: \u201cSomeone that was around during the 90s when drugs really came to the fore in people\u2019s minds, you can sometimes feel it in the air that something is hitting such a crisis point that it can\u2019t be ignored anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe government has to be able to hear what is coming from communities on drug use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Ruane says she took a while to accept the merits of citizens\u2019 assemblies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t always been a champion of citizens\u2019 assemblies in the sense that I would have a fear that it was being used as a delay tactic, to kick something down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I then have to step back and look at the fact that we\u2019ve had a huge impact from a number of citizens\u2019 assemblies now. So I think they have proven to be worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For her, a discussion needs to focus on the broader impact of drug use on communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re having that in an open forum hopefully you can push back against people that are either too afraid to push forward with this or that actually just want to maintain the likes of prohibition or don\u2019t really understand why harm reduction is important,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A spokesperson for the Department of Health told PA news agency that officials are working with the Department of the Taoiseach on the timing and format of a citizens\u2019 assembly on drug use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is envisaged that the remaining citizen assemblies, including the citizen assembly on drug use, will be established after the Dublin mayor citizens\u2019 assembly has completed its work. The specific timing of each assembly has yet to be confirmed,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Department of Health\u2019s approach to the citizen assembly on drugs use will be informed by the Government\u2019s health-led approach to people who use drugs, as outlined in the national drugs strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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