On 12 December 2005 the Misuse of Drugs Sectoral Group of the British–Irish Council held its fourth ministerial meeting, chaired by Minister Noel Ahern TD, Minister of State for drugs, in Dublin. Ministers from the different jurisdictions represented on the British–Irish Council agreed that members would take forward the following issues during 2006:

• Waleswill lead on commissioning of drug treatment services.
• Guernseywill lead on the confiscation of criminal assets.
• Irelandwill host a meeting on rehabilitation for drug misusers.
• Jerseywill explore the use of Subutex as substitution treatment for opiate misusers.
• Northern Irelandwill host a meeting on the challenges presented by cocaine misuse – recreational and problematic.

Meetings will be organised on each topic, at which officials and experts will have the opportunity to discuss ideas, explore different approaches to the subject under discussion, exchange views, experiences and best practice, and develop valuable networks of contacts. Ministers agreed that these meetings are a very useful forum for sharing, in a focused and practical manner, the detailed expertise and knowledge which is held across the British–Irish Council region. They also noted that, in addition to exploring specific themes in depth, each meeting has facilitated the exchange of information on general developments on the misuse of drugs. Members have been pleased to share information with one another on legislative and other developments in their countries, on new research findings and on emerging trends in drug misuse.

The December 2005 ministerial meeting also allowed members to examine the work which the Council has taken forward since it last met in November 2004:

·         In March 2005, Wales hosted a meeting in Cardiff, which focused on the issues involved in producing guidance on undertaking confidential enquiries into drug-related deaths.

·         Scotlandhosted a meeting in Edinburgh on the topic of children of substance misusing parents in May.

·         In June, Guernsey hosted a meeting on the topic of interventions with young people, including formal and informal education projects.

·         In November, the Isle of Man hosted a meeting focusing on arrest-referral schemes.

It was agreed that ministers would meet again late in 2006 to review progress.

For further information on the British-Irish Council, visitwww.britishirishcouncil.org