Half of Irish people would be in favour of the decriminalisation of drugs.

The move would mean no criminal convictions for those caught with drugs for personal use.

Almost 60% of young people are in favour of the change, according to a Red C poll.

Fergus McCabe from the Citywide Drugs Campaign says the survey didn’t differentiate between hard and softer drugs: ” I think people were talking about a possession point of view, whether you were using heroin or craic cocaine or whatever.

“The issue is if you are using a personal amount you are not the one that has imported it, you might be an addict or something,

“The notion of giving someone a criminal record over that I think people see that that does not make much sense.”