A recent proposal to decriminalize the possession of drugs for personal use has faced significant criticism from former Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, who argues such a move would empower criminal organizations and negatively impact society. The recommendation, stemming from the cross-party Joint Committee on Drugs Use and echoing a previous Citizens Assembly report, was published during the 30th anniversary of journalist Veronica Guerin's murder, a prominent victim of the drug trade in Ireland.
Ahern, who served as Justice Minister from 2008 to 2011, expressed strong opposition to the proposal, stating that it should be quickly rejected. He pointed to international examples, including concerns raised by the head of the Irish Medical Organisation, Professor Matthew Sadlier, who deemed a blanket decriminalization potentially dangerous. Sadlier cited Lisbon as an example where decriminalization allegedly led to increased public drug dealing.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan also urged caution, referencing British Columbia's experience in Canada. After a three-year trial, the province reversed its decriminalization policy due to a rise in public drug use. Ahern anticipates that members of the Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police force, would similarly oppose the suggestion, recalling comments from retired Assistant Garda Commissioner Tony Hickey. Hickey highlighted that criminal gangs operate on supplying market demand, regardless of the drug type, and that their operations cause immense harm and suffering.
Ahern drew parallels to past violence in Ireland linked to drug gangs, including the murders of Shane Geoghegan in 2008 and Roy Collins in 2009, which he described as resulting from territorial disputes and retaliatory actions within the drug trade. During his tenure as Justice Minister, Ahern noted the intense focus on combating drug gangs, involving increased Garda presence, enhanced surveillance laws, and legislative changes to target gang leaders and protect jurors.
Despite these efforts, Ahern acknowledged that criminal gangs adapt, moving to different criminal enterprises such as tiger kidnappings and ATM robberies when preventative measures are put in place. He maintains that the drug trade is no different and that increasing demand through decriminalization would directly benefit these criminal entities.
While Ahern conceded that in an ideal world, drug use might be considered solely a public health issue, he stressed that the current reality involves significant criminal activity that must be addressed. He asserted that stopping the supply of drugs and dismantling the associated criminality are crucial.
The government has reportedly given the proposal "short shrift." Minister for Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor stated there were no plans to alter existing policies, emphasizing a continued health-led approach for individuals found with drugs for personal use. Tánaiste Simon Harris further reinforced this stance, stating that recreational drug use should not be decriminalized as it fuels gangland crime.