Results 321-340 of 1,053,831 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Jennifer Carroll MacNeill OR speaker:Jackie Cahill OR speaker:Mary Butler OR speaker:Mark Ward OR speaker:David Stanton OR speaker:Louise O'Reilly OR speaker:Mairead Farrell OR speaker:Cormac Devlin)

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Irish Travellers’ Access to Justice Report: Discussion (3 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: Could I stop Dr. Joyce there? When I was a garsún, which was a few years ago, Traveller people moved around. They called to farms – I was on a small farm – and they did seasonal labour. They were welcome, in the main, but that seems to have changed in more recent times. The racism Professor Haynes spoke about seems to have got worse in recent times. In the past,...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Irish Travellers’ Access to Justice Report: Discussion (3 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: I will get back to the justice side of it because I have some questions on that as well, but I am looking at the overall societal and sociological situation. Has any research been done in the general population as to why people have such a racist view of Travellers, including in the Garda Síochána? Why are the views of the Garda Síochána and the general population as the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Irish Travellers’ Access to Justice Report: Discussion (3 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: That particular piece of work is important. A lot of the reaction of politicians comes from the people. I know we also have a duty to lead, but it also comes from below. If there is a rumour, for instance, that a Traveller family is going to be housed in a certain place, we will get a lot of telephone calls. If what Professor Schweppe just said could be focused on and dealt with, that...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Irish Travellers’ Access to Justice Report: Discussion (3 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: I know I do not have much time left but are the witnesses aware of any work undertaken by An Garda Síochána or the courts to improve relationships with the Traveller community? Is anything proactive going on there?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Irish Travellers’ Access to Justice Report: Discussion (3 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: I have a final question. We have minority indigenous populations in different parts of the world that have also experienced the kind of discrimination that has been outlined. Are there any examples of best practice in any of those locations that have focused on trying to help or to resolve matters?

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

David Stanton: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and their work. There has been a powerful contribution from all of the witnesses this morning and we appreciate it. In considering some of the issues that have come up in the past at the committee, we looked at the so-called Portuguese model, and I went there myself 15 years ago and saw what they were doing. They decriminalise small amounts...

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

David Stanton: Such as where?

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

David Stanton: I thank the witnesses. I apologise but I must leave to attend another committee meeting. It is madness but that is the way it works.

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

Mark Ward: I am watching the clock because I am due to speak in the House in a few minutes. I thank everyone for coming in. There is a wealth of experience on their side of the table. It is absolutely fantastic. I am really enjoying the discussion and getting a lot of information from the conversations that are going on. I worked in community-based addiction services for years. I worked in...

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)

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)

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...