Justice Committee express interest in Portuguese drug model

The Oireachtas Justice Committee will highlight the Portuguese drug decriminalisation model in an upcoming report to the Department of Justice.

Committee chairman David Stanton TD told the Irish Examiner the model “seemed to be quite effective” and that it should be debated in Ireland, as articulated by drugs minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.

A four-member delegation is conducting a three-day visit to Lisbon, where they are meeting senior members of the Portuguese government and police, as well as experts from the EU drugs agency.