Results 321-340 of 1,045,845 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Dara Calleary OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:David Stanton OR speaker:Mairead Farrell) in 'Committee meetings'

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)

Matt Shanahan: I thank all the witnesses for all the work they do, much of it unseen and much of it necessary. This builds on the meeting we had last week with the Prison Service when we discussed cultural and societal inequity. Much of the discussion today deals with the vulnerable in our society. Dr. Cullen highlighted that many people who take drugs for pleasure do not seem to run into addiction...

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

Matt Shanahan: Yes, I mean if we were trying to roll that out.

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

Matt Shanahan: Regarding Dr. Cullen's point about vapes, they were introduced as a smoking cessation tool. We could argue over whether they are or not but the fact is that the genie is out of the bottle in that respect. We have allowed big tobacco to buy into that sector and we now see the way the vapes are marketed and they have nothing to do with smoking cessation. People are starting on vapes through...

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

Matt Shanahan: We have been invited to see the Merchants Quay facility soon and I certainly hope to get to see the work going on there. I often pass it at night and early in the morning and I see many people who are trying to avail of services there. I am sure the work done there is very necessary and I look forward to getting down there.

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)

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)

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?