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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Labour’s Health spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD is calling on the Government to decriminalise the possession of drugs for personal use.Alamy Stock Photo Drug Decriminalisation Labour to bring Dáil motion on decriminalisation of personal drug use The party has said the government has shown “little progress” on decriminalisation despite recommendations to do so. 10.20am, 5 Nov 2025 Share options THE LABOUR PARTY is bringing a private members motion to the Dáil today on the decriminalisation of drug users. Labour’s Health spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD is calling on the Government to, amongst other things, decriminalise the possession of drugs for personal use and move towards a health led response. The party has said the government has shown “little progress” on decriminalisation despite recommendations to do so, while the use of controlled drugs continue to rise. In January 2024, the head of Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use recommended Ireland move towards the decriminalisation of possession of drugs for personal use. The assembly voted that the State should take a comprehensive health-led policy response to dealing with people who are in possession of drugs for personal use. At the time, the head, Paul Reid, said changing Ireland’s approach to drug use represents a “once in a generation opportunity” to help people affected by addiction. Labour has said that despite these recommendations, progress is too slow. Advertisement The party pointed to the fact that since the opening of Ireland’s first medically supervised injecting centre in December 2024 there has been no further progress on the provision of safe consumption spaces. It also said the use of cocaine has rapidly increased in Ireland and the potency of drugs being sold for consumption is increasing. Health led response The party is calling on the government to implement a health led response to the possession of drugs for personal use and decriminalise the possession of drugs for personal use by repealing Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1997. It also said there should be moves to develop more safer consumption spaces in Ireland’s main cities. It wants the upcoming National Drugs Strategy to be designated as an interim strategy, recognising that the final government response to the Citizen’ Assembly is due in June 2026. It also wants a dedicated Cabinet Committee on Drugs Use to prepare a response to the policy and legislative changes that will be necessary following the final Committee report. Any drugs-related policies and services, should be designed with involvement from people with living and lived experience of drug use it said. Finally it said multi-annual funding should be given for harm reduction services, and the resources necessary to support people who use drugs. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Support The Journal Sophie Finn View 25 comments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Labour to bring Dáil motion on decriminalisation of personal drug use”. 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