News

Class A drugs are currently legal in Ireland. But you can't do these things

Class A drugs are currently legal in Ireland. But you can't do these things

Drugs including ecstasy, ketamine and crystal meth are currently legal in Ireland thanks to a legal loophole.

On Tuesday morning a judgement by the Republic of Ireland’s Court of Appeal found that part of the 1977 Misuse of Drugs Act was unconstitutional – meaning government orders banning the possession of substances added to the statute since then are technically void.

That means that currently magic mushrooms and crystal meth are – albeit very much temporarily - legal in Ireland. Meanwhile, here’s what you still can't do.

Get an abortion, even when the foetus is not viable

Abortion is illegal in Ireland, although there is technically an exemption in cases where the mother’s life is at risk. Irish lawmakers recently rejected a proposed change to the abortion law that would allow women to terminate a foetus if it had a fatal abnormality. Currently women have to carry to term or travel abroad in such cases.

Source: BBC

Get married to the person you love, if you happen to be gay

Same-sex marriage is currently prohibited in Ireland. The Republic is holding a referendum on the matter on 22 May.

Source: Irish Times

Blaspheme

Under a law introduced in 2009, blasphemy is prohibited and punishable with a fine of up to €25,000 (£17,500). The law defines blasphemy as “publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion, with some defences permitted”.

Source: Guardian

Be protected from discrimination at work if you are gay

Under Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, organisations are able to sack staff for being gay, divorced or even unmarried.

Source: Irish Independent

Get your sex change recognised

Legislation is currently going through parliament that will allow the state to legally recognise transgender people. The Gender Recognition Bill is Ireland’s first effort to do so but campaigners have called for it to go further and recognise the right of children under 16 to legally change their gender.

Source: TENI

Refuse electroshock therapy

Under legislation that will be changed “shortly”, the state in Ireland will no longer be allowed to give electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to patients with capacity who do not consent.

Source: Irish Times

Protect children from being smacked

Corporal punishment remains legal in Ireland.

Source: Irish Times

More: Ireland just made a load of drugs legal, but only for one day

The Conversation (0)
x