Pg. 8 The Tobacco (Amendment) Act 2024 was enacted in November. It will increase the minimum legal age of sale of tobacco products to 21 from 1 February 2028.

Pg. 12 Supervised Injecting Facility

On average, approximately 350 people die from drug overdose every year and those who inject drugs, often in public areas, are a high-risk group. To reduce drug overdose and prevent other health harms, the Department of Health has introduced legislation and provided funding for the establishment of supervised injecting facilities.

In December 2024, the Dept of Health granted a licence under the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017 for Ireland’s first Medically Supervised Injecting Facility (MSIF), operated by Merchants Quay Ireland in Dublin city centre. The MSIF provides a dedicated safe place In Dublin City for people who inject drugs, prioritising their health and social needs and supporting them to engage with healthcare services.

As well as removing drug use from public spaces and reducing associated litter problems, it ensures that people who inject drugs have access to immediate medical intervention. This minimises the pressure on emergency services, including ambulance services and an Garda Síochána, by preventing overdoses or overdose-induced deaths. The licence is for a pilot period of 18 months and is subject to evaluation.