Festival drug testing pilot needs approval from Gardaí and Department of Justice

The HSE working group was set up on the back of severe reactions, including deaths, at music festivals in Britain during 2018 and 2019. File photo

The health chief seeking to introduce Ireland’s first drug testing service at festivals said they need Garda HQ and the Department of Justice to “give it the okay”.

HSE addiction lead, consultant psychiatrist Eamon Keenan, said Gardaí might approach drug testing as a “preservation of life” initiative in order to support it.