A Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use has been established to consider the legislative, policy and operational changes Ireland could make to significantly reduce the harmful impacts of illicit drugs on individuals, families, communities and wider Irish society.

Youtube recording of day one of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use. [Note starts at about 29 minutes] and day two Youtube recording.

Day 1: Saturday 15 April 2023 at the Grand Hotel, Malahide 
09:30-10:00 – Formal Opening of the Citizens’ Assembly
09:30 – 09:35 – Welcome remarks from the Secretary
09:35 – 09:45 – Opening speech from the Chair
09:45 – 09:50 – Video message from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar T.D.

11:45-12:00 – Diverse perspectives on harmful impacts of drugs use. Prof. Jo-Hanna Ivers, Associate Professor in Addictions, School of Medicine, and Associate Dean of Civic Engagement & Social Innovation, Trinity College Dublin [Prof Ivers presentation
12:25-13:00 – Q&A with panel including Prof. Jo-Hanna Ivers, Paul Griffiths and members of the Advisory Support Group Judge Ann Ryan, Prof. Mary Cannon and Joe O’Neill

14:00-15:00 – Drugs use patterns and trends
14:00-14:20 – Research and evidence from Ireland, Ms. Anne Doyle and Dr Deirdre Mongan, HRB Evidence Centre [HRB presentation]
14:35-15:00 – Q&A with panel including Ms. Anne Doyle, Dr. Deirdre Mongan, Brian Galvin (HRB) and Dr. Eoghan Quigley (EMCDDA)

15:15-17:15 – A person-centred perspective
15:15-16:00 – Fireside chat, moderated by Ms. Dearbhail McDonald, with Dr. Sharon Lambert, Ms. Pauline McKeown, Mr. Philly McMahon and Mr. Andy O’Hara

16:00-16:20 – Q&A with panel
17:00-17:15-Plenary session – feedback from tables

Day 2: Sunday 16 April 2023 at the Grand Hotel, Malahide  
09:30 – 11:00 International and European perspectives on drugs use
09:35 – 09:50 – An International Perspective on Drugs Use
Ms. Giovanna Campello, Chief, Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section, UNODC [UNODC presentation]

09:50 – 10:10 – European Drug Report 2022: Trends and Developments, the EMCDDA’s latest annual review of the drug situation in Europe’ Dr Eoghan Quigley, EMCDDA [EMCDDA presentation]

10:10 – 10:25 – A Human Rights perspective, Mr Thomas Kattau, Deputy Executive Secretary, Pompidou Group, Council of Europe [Pompidou presentation]
10:45 – 11:00 – Q&A

11:15 – 11:25 – Ms. Siobhán McArdle, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health [DOH presentation]

11:25 – 11:35 – Prof. Eamon Keenan, National Clinical Lead, HSE Addiction Services [HSE presentation]

11:45 – 11:55 – Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly, Organised and Serious Crime (OSC), An Garda Síochána [Garda presentation] 
11:55 – 12:15 Q&A

11:35 – 11:45 Mr. Ben Ryan, Assistant Secretary, Criminal Justice Policy, Department of Justice [DOJ presentation]

12:55 – 13:00 Chair’s concluding remarks

Assembly submissions page: https://citizensassembly.ie/submissions/ (up to 30 June 2023)