The HSE put separate proposals to An Garda Síochána to run pilot drug testing services at two music festivals this summer, but failed to get the green light for either, the Irish Examiner can reveal.
The HSE needed the permission of gardaí to operate a drug testing service because of the legal issues in relation to the possession, handling or disposal of illegal drugs.
It is thought that legal concerns were behind the reasons why gardaí were unable to give the go-ahead.
HSE's head of addiction services, Dr Eamon Keenan, said: “We did submit proposals to gardaí regarding pilot testing at two festivals. For legal reasons we were unable to progress them.”
The first proposal was to set up a limited pilot drug testing service for the Body and Soul festival, at Ballinlough Castle, Co Westmeath, in June.
Source: Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 25th October 2019
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