1335. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason the health research board does not routinely conduct or commission market surveillance to test illicit cannabis products for synthetic contaminants, despite evidence from other jurisdictions of such adulteration. [29262/25]

1336. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health whether the health research board’s attribution of harms, such as those in a report (details supplied), to cannabis itself without distinguishing between natural cannabis and synthetic cannabinoid adulterants reflects a deliberate policy to generalize risks, potentially skewing public health data and perceptions. [29263/25]

1337. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the steps the Government will take to ensure that public health messaging and research accurately differentiate between harms caused by cannabis and those caused by unregulated synthetic contaminants, particularly in the context of ongoing debates about cannabis legalization, to protect consumers and inform evidence-based policy. [29264/25]

Colm Burke, Minister of State at the Department of Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1335, 1336 and 1337 together.

The Health Research Board (HRB) undertakes monitoring, research, reporting, and communication tasks requested by the Department of Health to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy. The HRB is the Irish National Focal Point to the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and prepares an annual report on the current drug situation in Ireland for submission to this agency.

The significant impact of cannabis use is reflected by the number of treatment episodes recorded in the National Drug Treatment Reporting System in 2024. While cannabis was the third most common main drug reported, among cases aged 19 years or under cannabis was the main drug generating treatment demand. The HRB also presents analysis of trends in both illicit drug and alcohol use in its HRB Bulletin series, its Overview series, and other publications.

It is not within the remit of the HRB to conduct or commission market surveillance to test illicit cannabis products for synthetic contaminants.

The HSE manages the website www.drugs.ie which provides accurate, factual information on drugs and drug use for people of all ages, including comprehensive information and risk communications regarding cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids. The HSE has factsheets for parents on various topics related to cannabis and resources for parents who want to discuss the topic of substance use with their children. The HSE's harm reduction advice is that it is always safer not to use drugs at all. If it is feared that a substance is contaminated, the safest option is not to use.

We cannot be complacent about the risk to health posed by illicit drugs. I am committed to a public health approach to drug use, that will lead to better outcomes for individuals and society.