The Committee will meet with the Minister of State at the Department of Health Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, and the meeting will include the following officials and representatives: 

• Mr. David Leach , Assistant Secretary, Health
• Mr. Jim Walsh, Principal Officer, Health
• Professor Bobby Smyth, Youth Drug and Alcohol Service (YODA), Health Service Executive
• Ms. Mellany McLoone, Integrated Health Area manager, Dublin & North East, Health Service Executive
• Ms. Sarah Morton, Chair, National Drugs Strategy Steering Group
• Mr. Joe O'Neill, Chair, Western TF, National Drugs Strategy Reference Group
  
  

The Minister will update the Committee on the review of the National Drugs Strategy to inform the Committees report. A review of the National Drugs Strategy was published in July 2025 and included ten recommendations including improving the right to health for people who use drugs, an increase in community engagement and involvement with people who uses community services, ensuring they're central to the policy - making and service design, and aligning service deliveries to regional areas and ensuring the allocation of resources are appropriate to local populations.

​The Joint Committee on Drugs Use has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

[Click here to view the video recording of the session on 13 November 2025 - Topic: Engagement on the National Drugs Strategy]