National Oversight Committee

The National Oversight Committee, chaired by the Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, meets quarterly to give leadership and direction to support implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025

The Committee consists of a cross-sector membership from the statutory, community and voluntary sector, as well as clinical and academic expertise. The National Drugs Strategy outlines indicative membership and provides that the final membership is decided upon by the Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs strategy.

Membership of the national oversight committee 2021-2025

Six Strategic Implementation Groups (SIGs) have been established to support the implementation of the strategic priorities, under the auspices of the national oversight committee. Independent chairs have been appointed for these SIGs, based on their individual expertise in specific policy issues and their leadership skills. These individuals come from a diversity of backgrounds, including local development, health services, public administration, the legal system and academia.

The chairs of the SIGs are members of a streamlined National Oversight Committee, along with representatives of government departments, drug and alcohol task forces and community and voluntary organisations. Three Ministerial nominees have been appointed to the Committee, an academic expert and two clinical experts to the committee. These individuals were selected on the basis of their national and international expertise on drug policy. Neither was appointed in a representative capacity of any medical or other organisation.

• to give leadership, policy direction, prioritisation and mobilisation of resources to support the strategic implementation groups
• to measure performance in order to strengthen the delivery of drugs initiatives and to improve the impact on the drug problem
• to monitor the drugs situation and ensure that the lessons drawn from evidence and good practice inform the development of policy and initiatives to address the drug problem oversee
• to ensure good governance and accountability by all partners involved in the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy
• to oversee early warning and emerging needs and research sub-committees