An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Senator Lynn Ruane): Apologies have been received from the Cathaoirleach, Deputy Gannon, for whom Deputy Rice is substituting. Apologies have also been received from Senators Ryan and Ní Chuilinn and from Senator Devine, for whom Deputy Ó Murchú is substituting.

I am pleased to open the 22nd public meeting of the joint committee and the sixth session in our legal issues module. I welcome our witnesses: Ms Nicole Luongo, policy and systems change analyst at the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition; Mr. Kellen Russoniello, director of public health at the Drugs Policy Alliance; Mr. Jack Farrell, PhD candidate in criminology at Simon Fraser University; Mx. D.J. Larkin, executive director at the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition; and Ms Isabel Pereira, senior co-ordinator for drugs policy at Dejusticia...

I invite the witnesses to deliver their opening statements.

Ms Nicole Luongo: I thank the honourable committee for inviting me to speak today. I am the policy and systems change analyst for the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, CDPC. The CDPC is a national, non-partisan, civil society organisation in Canada pursuing drug policies that are grounded in scientific evidence, public health and safety and human rights. I have held my position for five years, during which time I have undertaken academic and legal research drafted, analysed and evaluated policies related to drug use and the social determinants of health and engaged with diverse government, civil society and public sector stakeholders. Prior to joining the CDPC, I completed a graduate degree in medical sociology. I also have extensive lived experience of criminalised drug use and Canada’s substance use treatment system. I look forward to addressing the committee.

I have carefully reviewed the report by the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, and I will draw from lessons learned in the Canadian context to offer insight into how the recommendations therein can be successfully implemented and maximally effective. Given my limited time, I will focus on three substantive areas, namely, distinguishing the harmful effects of drug use from the harmful effects of drug laws and policies; the role of public attitudes and beliefs in drug policy reform; and designing robust substance use treatment services. I have submitted additional briefing material that significantly expands upon my opening statement.

First, on distinguishing the harmful effects of drug use from the harmful effects of drug laws and policies, my key points are that many of the harms that we attribute to drug use are in fact harms derived from drug laws and policies and that the primary driver of drug-related harms is drug prohibition. Therefore reducing drug-related harms at their source will require a radical overhaul of the international and domestic drug control regimes...

[Click here to read the full debate on the Oireachtas website]

Opening statements:

• Opening statement, Jack Farrell, PhD Candidate, Simon Fraser University, Canada
• Opening statement, DJ Larkin, Executive Director, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC)
• Opening statement, Nicole Luongo, Policy and Systems Change Analyst, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC)
• Opening statement, Isabel Pereira, Senior Coordinator for Drug Policy, Dejusticia, Colombia
• Opening statement, Kellen Russoniello, Director of Public Health, Drug Policy Alliance USA

View video of the debate (21 April 2026)