Drugs Without Consequences: Has Ireland Gone Too Far?

Niall talks to Cork Councillor Albert Deasy about Ireland’s new **Health Referral Scheme**, which came into effect on 1 September.

Under the new system, Gardaí can refer eligible adults caught for a first drug possession offence to the HSE instead of prosecuting them or issuing an adult caution. Supporters say it could prevent people from being dragged into the criminal justice system over personal drug use and instead direct them towards health services.

But the rollout has already raised serious questions. Some frontline Gardaí say they only learned about the scheme through media reports, with official guidelines arriving on the day it was introduced and little or no training provided beforehand.

Niall asks how such a significant change in drug policy could be introduced without properly preparing the Gardaí expected to implement it.

Possession of illegal drugs remains a criminal offence, so technically this is not decriminalisation. But is Ireland now moving towards decriminalisation in practice?

Is treating personal drug possession primarily as a health issue a sensible and compassionate approach, or does avoiding prosecution remove an important deterrent and send the message that illegal drug use carries few consequences?

Niall discusses the controversy with Cork Councillor Albert Deasy and asks: **should someone caught with illegal drugs for personal use still face prosecution?**