Results 281-300 of 1,035,211 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Mick Barry OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:David Stanton)

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

David Stanton: Could both witnesses comment on the situation with juveniles - those under the age of 18 - who are found in possession of substances? How is that dealt with? How are they treated?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

David Stanton: Will Deputy Chief Constable Wilson send the committee a note on that it might be very interesting to see what the enforcement actions look like. Also, sometimes we find in Ireland that young people are working under the direction of older gangs who exploit them. I am not sure if that is the same in Oregon but we are concerned about it here and have done a number of studies on that issue....

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

David Stanton: Deputy Chief Constable Wilson mentioned 2.5 g. How was that amount arrived at and does it apply to all substances? In Portugal, there was a scale although the committee was told recently they are dispensing with that and are focusing on whether or not somebody is dealing or trafficking versus personal possession.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

David Stanton: I thank Deputy Chief Constable Wilson.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: To follow up on that, Mr. Russoniello stated "Decriminalisation is an important component of a public health approach to drugs, but it should not act alone." Does this mean he believes an increase in services is needed in tandem with decriminalisation for it to be successful or do these services need to be in place first? Mr. Russoniello also said that if you were to wait for services, you...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: I suppose the point is that for decriminalisation it to be successful, ideally everything would come together to give it the best chance of success. Is that a fair point?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: Does Ms Wilson agree that for decriminalisation to be successful and to give it the best chance, everything needs to be tied in?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: On cannabis, one of the witnesses made the point that it is now treated almost like alcohol in that people cannot consume it in public but they can get it in certain stores. Are there issues with cannabis being used in public? Does that issue come up?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: Does Mr. Russoniello have the same experience in Oregon with respect to cannabis?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: When decriminalisation was introduced, did it result in the police having more manpower and time to concentrate on the serious criminals because they were not arresting people for small amounts or for personal use? Was there a benefit? The main traffickers and suppliers had to be tackled. Did it make any difference from a policing point of view?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses for their presentations today. Someone made the point earlier that sometimes Oregon is used as an example of what went wrong. From the information the witnesses have provided today about British Columbia, it is to be hoped we can learn from these experiences. It is a pity that, due to Covid and the arrival of fentanyl, the region faced the perfect storm in drug terms....

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

David Stanton: I agree with my colleague that it has been a most useful and informative session. I thank everyone for their time. It is most appreciated.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: I have one last question and I will come in again later with questions for the other witness. Ms Wilson outlined that consumption facilities or services were available for people in British Columbia. Was it that there were not enough? Was funding reduced? Were people still using the facilities in the same way they did before? Did their use increase or stay the same?

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I spoke in the Chamber last week. The Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, was present. We discussed student accommodation and the fact that people have to rent properties for more than 12 months. The Minister of State said that there would be legislation in this regard. However, the legislation before us relates to student accommodation, not private dwellings. My son goes to...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Mattie McGrath: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024 aims to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, specifically in relation to SSA tenancy licences. The Bill stipulates that student accommodation will adhere to the traditional September to May academic year, up to 41 weeks, unless a student requests a longer tenancy. It is all about "mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí". We must...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: Student accommodation is a difficult situation for people in my constituency in Cork who are trying to go to college, or people anywhere. Many people come to my office to see if we can source accommodation for them. It is desperate after spending so many years going through college that they cannot find accommodation. Some people are couch surfing and sleeping in cars. It is a terrible...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Martin Browne: Movement is definitely needed on facilitating the needs of students who are facing sky-high rents. Addressing the situation whereby students find themselves having to sign a contract that would lock them into paying for potentially unused accommodation for the summer months has been required for some time. Specifically, this Bill stipulates that specific student accommodation contracts...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Seán Canney: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill, and it needs to be implemented as quickly as possible. Education is fundamental to the future of our country. Students going to college should have a good experience, and that includes safe and good accommodation at a reasonable price. This has not been the case in many instances in the past. Now we have a situation where some landlords and...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Bill is welcome in that it addresses the scandalous problem of student accommodation providers charging for 51 weeks when the students' term is only 41 weeks. It is positive that will be prevented and that students cannot be required to pay more than a month's rent and deposit in advance, other than their fees, if they happen to be paying their fees, to the provider. Those are welcome...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: We very much welcome this Bill. This issue was put on the agenda because of the very significant amount of work done by Sinn Féin and Deputy Mairéad Farrell. It has been brought up for a considerable amount of time. It was first a matter of identifying the number of these places owned by vulture funds and the average rents charged. There was then the question of 51-week leases,...