28th March 2023
Advisory Support Group to the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use is appointed
Chairperson of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, Mr. Paul Reid, has today announced the membership of the Advisory Support Group to the Assembly.
Welcoming the establishment of the Group, Mr. Reid commented “I am pleased to have such an experienced and diverse group of people to support the important work of the Assembly. The Advisory Support Group has a key role in supporting the Citizens’ Assembly in developing a comprehensive work programme, in line with the Assembly’s Terms of Reference. I am grateful to the members of the group for so generously committing their time to the Assembly, and I look forward to working with them over the coming months.”
The members of the Advisory Support Group include:
- Jo-Hanna Ivers, Associate Professor in Addictions, School of Medicine, and Associate Dean of Civic Engagement & Social Innovation, Trinity College Dublin
- Philly McMahon, advocate for people affected by drugs use
- Mary Cannon, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Youth Mental Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and consultant psychiatrist, Beaumont Hospital.
- Joe O’Neill, Chair of the Western Region Drugs and Alcohol Task Force
- Ann Ryan, Retired Judge of the District Court
- Brian Galvin, Programme Manager for Drug and Alcohol Research, Health Research Board
- John Garry, Professor of Political Behaviour and lead at The Democracy Unit, Queen’s University Belfast
The Terms of Reference for the Advisory Support Group identify the group’s role as supporting the Chair of the Assembly in developing a fair, balanced and comprehensive work programme, in line with the Assembly’s Terms of Reference. Members of the Group will offer suggestions and feedback on the design of a draft programme, and identify options for specialists, experts, stakeholder groups and others to appear before the Assembly. It will be a matter for the Chair and members of the Assembly to determine the final Work Programme.
Where possible, members of the Advisory Support Group will attend the meetings of the Citizens’ Assembly. Their role at those meetings will be:
- To observe proceedings and reflect on how the material being presented is received by members;
- To consider how best to incorporate feedback from roundtable discussions and post-meeting evaluations into programme design for subsequent meetings;
- Where appropriate, and at the discretion of the Chairperson, members of the Advisory Support Group may also provide clarification on questions from the members, with answers being provided either in plenary session or in documentation;
- Where appropriate, and at the discretion of the Chairperson, members of the Advisory Support Group may be invited to present to the Citizens’ Assembly in plenary session.
The first meeting of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use is scheduled to take place on April 15th and 16th 2023.
ENDS
Further information:
For further information please contact Lorna Gardiner, Q4 Public Relations, 086 0761374 lorna@q4pr.ie
NOTES TO EDITORS
Members of the Advisory Support Group are appointed by, and serve at the sole discretion of, the Chairperson. They are required to perform their role in a balanced and independent manner, and shall not act in an advocacy capacity on their own behalf, or on behalf of any other individual or group. They shall refrain from making public comment on their work for the Citizens’ Assembly, or on the proceedings of the Assembly, whilst the Assembly is ongoing. Members agree to undertake their work on a pro-bono basis, but will be entitled to transport and accommodation expenses for attending meetings of the Citizens’ Assembly, in accordance with public sector guidelines and rates, and will be offered a token of appreciation to the value of €500 at the conclusion of the Citizens’ Assembly.
