In July 2024, the Centre for Justice and Innovation published a report, presented by Tony Duffin, the chair of the National Drugs Strategy Strategic Implementation Group 5 (SIG-5), which aimed to map existing alternatives to coercive sanctions (ACS) for individuals found in possession of controlled drugs for personal use in Ireland.¹ The authors explored how ACS are delivered in Ireland, stakeholders’ views on how these could be improved, and the potential for the expansion of ACS in the Irish context.

A ministerial meeting of the drugs and alcohol work sector of the British–Irish Council (BIC) was held in Dublin on 26 January 2024. The Irish Government is the lead administration for this strand of work.

The meeting was chaired by Minister for Public Health, Well-being and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton TD. It was also attended by ministers from Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and Guernsey.1

In March 2024, the Joint Committee on Drugs Use was established by the Irish Government to consider the recommendations in the report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use.¹

Oireachtas Committees

In Ireland, there are mechanisms that Government can use to inform the policy-making process. Oireachtas (Parliamentary) committees advise the Oireachtas on a range of specific areas, including drug policy.

In November 2023, Young Ireland: national policy framework for children and young people was launched by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).¹ It sets out the policy direction and key priorities in respect of children and young people (aged 0–24 years) in Ireland across all Government Departments and State agencies to the end of 2028.

Background

Young Ireland is the successor strategy to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the national policy framework for children & young people 2014–2020, which was Ireland’s first national policy framework for children and young people.² Overall, Young Ireland reflects a continuation in its aim, focus, and approach when compared with its predecessor.

The Road Traffic Act 2024 was enacted on 17 April 2024.¹ The purpose of the Act is to overcome anomalies evident in the existing legislation. It provides for changes to the penalty points regime (Part 2), speed limits (Part 3), and mandatory roadside testing of drivers involved in serious collisions for intoxicants, which will now include drug testing (Part 4). This article will focus on Part 4, which provides for several amendments to the Road Traffic Act 2010.

An Irish delegation attended the 67^th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)¹ in Vienna on 14–22 March 2024. The delegation consisted of:

• Jim Walsh, Brian Dowling and Richie Stafford of the Department of Health
• Lisa Fay of the Department of Justice
• Detective Superintendent Sé McCormack of An Garda Síochána
• Ambassador Eoin O’Leary and officials from the Irish Permanent Representation to the United Nations (UN).

CND meets annually and adopts a range of decisions and resolutions.² Intersessional meetings are convened throughout the year. Towards the end of each year, CND meets at a reconvened session to consider budgetary and administrative matters as the governing body of the UN drugs programme.