Mary Fitzpatrick

But that's not what the committee is proposing.

There's 161 recommendations.

They're wide-ranging, they're comprehensive, and they deal with everything, but primarily focusing on what needs to be done to

ensure that we do have adequate prevention so that we avoid and reduce harm in the first instance, that we have treatment available, that we support individuals and communities.

But as I say, there's 161 recommendations.

The decriminalisation is only one.

And if it was to happen in isolation without the rest, it would be a disaster.

And nobody is proposing that.

That wasn't the...

committee's proposal.

And what will happen now is that this report has been launched by the Oireachtas

It now goes to the Dáil and to the Sianad.

There will be debates there.

In parallel to this, the Minister, Jennifer Murnane-O'Connor, is developing a new drug strategy and the Minister has engaged very significantly with the committee and has actually held off publishing her drug strategy.

I absolutely believe the Minister...

I haven't spoken to her since the report has been launched, so I can't say for 161 of the recommendations that yes, I can't speak for her on that.

But what I do know for certain is that the Minister absolutely appreciates the need for a comprehensive public health-led response to our drugs and addiction crisis.

And

the minister has engaged and is engaging, not just with the committee, but with all of the stakeholders.

She's been very hands-on on this because she understands that every community in the country is being affected and the families and individuals all over the country are being affected.