Results 321-340 of 1,052,528 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Paschal Donohoe OR speaker:Richard Bruton OR speaker:Róisín Shortall OR speaker:Mark Ward OR speaker:Paul Murphy)

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: That urine sample defined who you were as a person.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank Dr. Healy. Mr. Mullins mentioned the safe injecting facilities and the one that is due to open later in the year. From talking to him and other people, I know they faced some barriers along the way. Will Mr. Mullins elaborate on some barriers that he faced? How did he overcome them? What conversations did he have with An Garda Síochána? I mentioned that going to the...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Mr. Mullins mentioned moving from safe injecting to drug consumption rooms. Is that to meet the need that exists and do we need that going forward?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: We need to be proactive rather than reactive.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses for attending. On decriminalisation, Mr. Mullins pointed out that the middle class will probably get the benefit of it, whereas for people who are working class or come from disadvantaged areas, it might make no difference, and that made sense. We are looking to make a change here on foot of the citizens' assembly. The war on drugs has not worked. Everyone knows that...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank Dr. Lambert for that. To go back to what Mr. Mullins said about supervised injection facilities, we hope that will go ahead and be positive. There is a facility planned for Cork. What can be learned from the experience in Dublin that will make the delivery of one for Cork go more quickly and smoothly?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I know Davina. I grew up with her and I have family members who are in the same situation. I am well aware of the story. I know that a different name is being used to protect her identity but it is very common. I worked in front-line addiction services in drop-in centres. It is a fine line to be trained to try to assist people where they are, not where you think they should be, and to do...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Is that training delivered across all community addiction services to upskill any staff who are meeting people?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Dr. Lambert made an interesting statement that drug use should be seen as a mental health issue. I just came from a debate with the Minister about Keltoi. Dr. Lambert will be aware it is a residential dual diagnosis service that has been closed since 2020. I wanted to know whether there is money in budget 2025 to reopen it as a residential service. It does not look like that will happen...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I will go back to Davina's story to highlight the gaps and cracks she fell through. What can be done to stop that happening?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: There's a lady, Gillian Butler, who was in prison in the throes of addiction.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: The story was covered in "The Two Norries Podcast". Her partner, James Leonard, was also in prison and in addiction. Ms Butler's story is probably one of the most powerful stories I have heard because I come from the same area as her. I am the first person from Knocknaheeny to be elected to the Dáil. However, my experience growing up was completely different from Ms. Butlers because...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: Does Dr. Healy wish to make a brief comment?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: To come back to Mr. Mullins on housing, I was working with a lady in Cork who was refused housing because when the Garda check was done, she had a conviction for having cannabis for personal use. This is a woman with four children, three of whom are on the spectrum, and she was taken off the list for a year. Thankfully, she was housed recently, after a year or maybe a year-and-a-half's...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank Mr. Mullins. Does Ms Kearney wish to comment?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I have a final question for Dr. Lambert on the points she raised about 80% to 90% of people with mental health issues who have addiction issues, maybe changing the way we view people in the throes of addiction and what we could do. Ms Anna Quigley, who was here last week, said that, in the past, there was a much better integrated co-operative system between the HSE, the different...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank the Chair.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I accept.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank the Chairman. Deputy Gould was the first person from his area to be elected. I was going to say I was the first person but Deputy Gino Kenny took that crown off me. I was interested to hear Dr. Lambert's remarks on women experiencing menopause entering into addiction. It brought me back to when I was working in a methadone clinic and we had women - I do not know whether they...