David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Chair might tell me when my ten minutes are up, as I do not have access to a clock. I welcome our two guests and thank them very much for their thought-provoking and sincere presentations.

Dr. Ó Concubhair mentioned the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which mandates signatory states to pursue a criminal justice-led response on drug use and drug markets. I understand there is a whole range of international conventions and agreements that Ireland is signed up to. Could he comment on those? What would be involved in de-ratifying them? I also note he mentioned the 1977 Act, repealing section 3 of which seems to be the one that would decriminalise it. What is the impact of being signed up and having ratified a number of conventions, not just the United Nations one?