Hot Press understands there's strong ministerial support for adopting the Portuguese model...
The Minister of State for Drugs, Catherine Byrne, is expected to suggest decriminalisation as a policy option in the new National Drug Strategy, which will be released during the summer.
Hot Press has learned from government sources that there’s strong cabinet support for adopting the Portuguese model, which the Justice Committee of the Oireachtas travelled to Lisbon to examine in 2015.
2001 saw the wholesale liberalisation of Portuguese drug laws, which are therapy-based rather than punitive, with people caught for personal possession being brought in front of a commission comprising of a social worker, a psychiatrist and a lawyer. As a result, drug abuse there has been significantly reduced.
“It’s seeing the drug abuser as a person, dealing with the realities of this person’s habits and finding a more realistic approach to dealing with it,” her predecessor, Aodhán O Ríordáin told us at the time. “It doesn’t mean that you send somebody merrily on their way, but it does mean that you’re not dealing with somebody through the criminal justice system, which to me makes an awful lot more sense.
“If somebody has an addiction I don’t think dealing with that person through the criminal justice system is doing anybody any favours," he continued. "It’s a medical issue, it's a medical need. If you look at the bare facts, 70% of those who have been convicted of drug offences are people who have been caught in possession of drugs for their own personal use. What a complete waste of Garda time! What a complete waste of court time! Why are we doing that? If you see somebody shooting up down an alleyway, do you really see them as a criminal or somebody who’s in chronic need of medical care? I think most people would make the logical determination that this person is in need of medical care. This person does not need intervention from a gard or the court system.”
On their return from Lisbon, the Justice Committee issued a statement saying that they “strongly recommend the introduction of a harm reducing and rehabilitative approach, whereby the possession of a small amount of illegal drugs for personal use, could be dealt with by way of a civil/ administrative response and rather than via the criminal justice route.”
Responding to today's news, Tony Duffin, the Director of the Ana Liffey Drug Project who've briefed successive ministers, says: "Ireland is fast becoming recognised by international policy experts as a country that is taking steps to deal in a mature fashion with drug use, and our politicians are to be commended for that. The move towards decriminalisation of possession for personal use is another good example of Ireland being willing to consider what works in other jurisdictions. As with any policy shift, the devil is in the detail – thought needs to be given to what will work best for us, and this is not something which can happen today or tomorrow. However, I do think that it will happen. National policy is in line with all the international evidence insofar as it frames drug use as a health issue, rather than a criminal justice issue. At the moment, we have the problematic situation where in order to seek help for the health issue of drug use, you are automatically self-identifying as a criminal. This is simply unhelpful, stigmatising and needs to change.
“I think communication will be important," Duffin continues. "There can be a tendency to conflate decriminalisation with legalisation, which is totally inaccurate and needs to be addressed. All we’re saying is that instead of possession for personal use being a crime, it would be dealt with as a health issue. This is much less stigmatising and supportive and provides a better mechanism to address drug using behaviour. I think that’s something that will resonate with people. At the moment, if you’re a parent and your daughter smokes a joint or takes a pill, society’s response is to say that she’s a criminal and you’re the parent of a criminal. How is that helpful?”
Personal possession in Portugal is defined as having no more than a ten-day supply of a particular proscribed substance, whether it be cannabis or harder drugs like cocaine and heroin.
In a conversation last week, a Fine Gael TD who declined to be named told Hot Press that decriminalisation has become a hot topic within the party, and has considerable ministerial support.
After famously denouncing streaming services such as Spotify, Taylor Swift recently caved in and made her music available to stream again- so was it worth it?
Read More
20 new acts have just been announced for Stradbally this September...
Read More
Ahead of the release of their new album, which will be out in autumn, the roots and folk band have been scheduled to play alongside Irish language band Seo Linn this evening.
Read More
The former Oasis' singer is set to release his first ever solo album ever this October.
Read More
Depeche Mode have just shared a 360-degree video for 'Going Backwards', which is the first track on their brilliant 'Spirit' album.
Read More
Bell X1 have just released their new single 'Fire King', which has already reached over one million plays on Spotify...
Read More
Kodaline make a most welcome return today with their stunning new single ‘Brother’, which is a song that easily sits among their very best.
Read More
In 2018, the Web Summit re-engages with its alma mater in Dublin – but this time to host the MoneyConf event, which hopes to attract 5,000 people the RDS.
Read More
Radiohead have shared a new video for their previously unreleased studio recording of 'Man of War.'
Read More
Bono and Adam talked to Liam Mackey before their Croke Park gig in 1985.
Read More
The former One Direction star says that he was subjected to thorough security checks while travelling through American airports on tour with the band, including being detained for three hours.
Read More
The exhibition is being held in the Copperhouse Gallery in St Kevin's Cottages on Synge Street, from 6-8pm.
Read More
Having just welcomed twins into the world with his wife Amal, the Ocean's Eleven has sold his start-up drinks company to Diageo, the multinational beverages company who also own Guinness.
Read More
The Midsummer Sessions come to Portstewart between July 6-9, during the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
Read More
Brian Wilson, who plays two Irish dates next month, will release an 18-song anthology of his solo work in September.
Read More
The official music video for the late musician's song 'The Promise' has just been released.
Read More
The Dublin band's music video for their debut single ‘All Or Nothing’ stars Keith Duffy's son, Jay Duffy.
Read More
The National College of Art and Design has announced the appointment of Sarah Glennie as its new Director. She will take up her new position in January 2018.
Read More
Almost every major cast member makes an appearance in this telling new trailer for Season 7.
Read More
The very first Wheelhouse Showcase will take place tomorrow (Thursday June 22).
Read More
Ireland’s abortion failings will be highlighted at high-level EU meetings this week, with the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment being invited to address several discussions.
Read More
On their 1984 European tour, U2 talked to Bill Graham about The Unforgettable Fire's realization in Slane Castle - what they called the most ambitious journey yet.
Read More
The ex-One Directioner did an acoustic take on the classic track during an appearance on the kid's writing competition show 500 Words on BBC Radio 2.
Read More
The Cork band will perform in Dublin on December 22.
Read More
The new lighthearted comedy will also star The Fall actress Tara Lynne O'Neill and Game of Thrones actor Ian McElhinney.
Read More
The new film aims to reunite the cast of the 2008 film ten years later.
Read More
The American rock band will land in Dublin this October.
Read More
Stormzy, Craig David, James Blunt, Brian May, Leona Lewis, Emili Sande, Paloma Faith and Bastille are just some of the names who appear on the track.
Read More
Entitled “Irish Eyes”, the piece is inspired by the eyes of a number of Ireland’s most prolific writers and poets.
Read More
Netflix, the world’s leading internet TV network, is bringing Tony Danza back to series television in The Good Cop, which will air later this year.
Read More
The late singer's 12-year-old daughter Toni has touchingly described her father as her "idol" and spoke about their "special connection" in an open letter she penned for Father's Day.
Read More
The County Wicklow-based actor made the shock announcement last night to pull the curtain down on his distinguished career, saying it was a "private decision".
Read More
The New York rap legend, who achieved fame as one part of the Mobb Deep duo, died due to complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis.
Read More
Francie Conway enlisted the help of Queen producer David Richards to record ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ – but Richards sadly passed away in 2013. Only now has the Irish songwriter been able to finish recording what is a very special song for him.
Read More
Body & Soul comes to Ballinlough Castle this weekend (June 23 – 25), bringing with it the likes of Sleaford Mods, Metronomy, Lambchop and dozens of other acts. Here's the full list of stage times for the weekend.
Read More
The Cavan lads will bring their Spitting Image Tour to Dublin in time for Christmas.
Read More
U2's War tour came home with a massive date headlining the Phoenix Park festival. Bono chatted to Liam Mackey beforehand...
Read More
The music of the late minimalist artist Conor Walsh has been used as the soundtrack for Mayo.ie’s latest tourism video.
Read More
Two Pints will be performing in Salthill Bar this July.
Read More
Seth McFarlane, the show's creator, called West "joy to work with."
Read More
Buoyed by the launch of the #MoreWomen campaign, which has raised €25,000 for women looking to enter political life in just five days, the Women For Election organisation are urging Leo Varadkar to reflect gender balance in his Junior Minister appointments.
Read More
Fronted by the legendary Jock McDonald, The Bollock Brothers will play at the Grand Social in Dublin this Saturday, June 24.
Read More
The English musician will release his second album, Wake Up Now, on September 8.
Read More
One of the country’s most successful comedy festivals will return to Galway from October 24-30.
Read More
Jackie Hayden and Peter Murphy, who have both been invaluable to Hot Press over the past 40 years, have been invited to make key contributions at the second Kilmore Quay Literary Festival, Write By The Sea 2017.
Read More
The American pop rock band will play in Vicar St and Mandela Hall this September.
Read More
The 23-year-old singer is to be made an honourary citizen of Manchester in July, it has been confirmed.
Read More
The Star Wars actress had heroin, cocaine, methadone and ecstasy in her system at the time of her tragic death, according to the autopsy report.
Read More
Netflix has announced that the highly anticipated 'Star Trek: Discovery' will be available to Irish viewers to stream from 25 September.
Read More
The good news just keeps on flowing for Irish film and TV directors, with the word that Listowel’s Gerard Barrett has done a deal with FX and Fox for a new TV drama.
Read More
Bono talked to Bill Graham as WAR hit number one in the UK...
Read More
American death metal band Morbid Angel are pleased to announce a Belfast headline show at The Limelight 2 on this November.
Read More
The experimental band plan to "cut out the middle man" with new venture aimed at delivering their music directly to the fans.
Read More
Just days after announcing a solo show at The Grand Social on July 1, it has been confirmed that Sean O’Hagan will play a second gig at the Cork County Cricket Club the following evening.
Read More
The Irish songwriter is set to play at the Limelight 2 on Tuesday June 20.
Read More
The political and cultural landscape has changed almost beyond recognition since the Hog first exited his pen – and took up his pen. But there is no getting away from some eternal truths.
Read More 
American Dream will be release on September 1.
Read More
The Noughties pop-rock band will revive their set on two January dates next year.
Read More
The gave album announcement follows the news that Jay-Z's wife Beyonce gave birth to twins yesterday.
Read More
The former President of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Marion Coy says that the political centre in Ireland must now examine how it presents itself in the current "politics of fear".
Read More
The 41-year-old TV star, who is best known as one half of the popular duo Ant and Dec, bravely opened up yesterday about his battles with depression, anxiety and addiction.
Read More
Beyoncé's father Mathew Knowles has taken to Instagram to confirm media reports that she has given birth.
Read More
As part of the long-standing collaboration between Jameson and Hot Press, Bow St. Sessions continue to give a flavour of all the best that Irish music has to offer. The latest instalment saw the Sessions return to their home in Jameson Distillery Bow St. and was once again an unqualified success.
Read More
Adam pocketed a big fat Hot Press contributors’ cheque for documenting their February/March ’82 run round the US
Read More
Elvis Costello and Altered Images had to settle for silver & bronze as the chaps won the overall Hot Press Readers’ Poll Best Act.
Read More
Time to take those 'Cemetery Slut' t-shirts out of the wardrobe, as Dani & Co. play Belfast & Dublin.
Read More
The music mogul says he's in the process of "making calls" about doing the charity single to raise much needed funds for the victims of the horrific fire.
Read More
Coldplay have just released a new lyric video for the song 'All I Can Think About Is You', which is taken from their eagerly awaited new five-track Kaleidoscope EP.
Read More
The Mullingar band have just released their latest single, 'Show Me The Science'.
Read More
The U2 guitarist said he "didn't hesitate for a split-second" in accepting the award named after Les Paul who he described as "without doubt a man after my own heart."
Read More
After smashing her first ever festival set, the lovely Soulé graced us with her presence in the Hot Press Speakeasy, for an interview with Stuart Clarke.
Read More
Ireland's most exciting up and coming hip - hop act, Rusangano Family blew the roof off of the Bulmers Live Stage at Forbidden Fruit, and are bringing their high energy act to international stages in the near future.
Read More
After supervising their efforts in the UK, Hot Press' Bill Graham caught up with the band on the midwest leg of their first American tour...
Read More
The pop star plays a confusing amount of roles in her latest video for new single “Bad Liar”, which samples a bit from the classic track “Psycho Killer”.
Read More
Following his IFTA win for Best Supporting Actor in the film The Siege of Jadotvville, O’Mara will be starring in the upcoming season of the hit Amazon Drama.
Read More
Following their performance to 40,000 people at Malahide Castle, the Canadian alt/rock band played a short intimate gig in the Dublin bar.
Read More Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment have today issued a statement calling on new Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to hold a referendum on repealing the 8th next year.
Read More
"The impossible deal is now done," said UFC president Dana White when announcing the long-mooted fight between the retired professional boxing champ and the Irish Mixed martial arts superstar.
Read More
Simon Coveney is the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, while Simon Harris remains in Health.
Read More It was a dramatic day in Dáil Éireann, with Leo Varadkar taking up the highest political office in the land. And next, he is announcing his cabinet!
Read More The five-piece Irish band Sack is confirmed to make an appearance in Sean O’Hagan’s solo show in July.
Read More
Having teased us all spring, Queens of the Stone Age have today announced that their new album will be called Villains.
Read More
The man who introduced U2 to Paul McGuinness, Bill Graham joined U2 on their first run round the UK.
Read MoreFor information including benefits, key facts, figures and rates for advertising with Hot Press, click below
Advertise 
