Results 341-360 of 1,060,390 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív04 OR speaker:Colm Burke OR speaker:Michael Collins)

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: If it can be eliminated, then it is eliminated.

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: Are there no further questions, I thank Dr. Sindy Joyce, Dr. David Joyce, Professor Hayes and Professor Schweppe for their contributions. We may only have a few weeks left of the Dáil. We are looking to put forward quick, simple recommendations because we need change. At the end of the day, while we can go all over the place, the one place where we can actually effect change is by...

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: I welcome everyone to the twenty-eighth meeting of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community. We have apologies from the Cathaoirleach, Senator Eileen Flynn - it is for that reason that I am chairing the meeting - and Senator Joe O'Reilly. I would like to remind members that they must be physically present within Leinster House to take part in the public meetings...

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: We will work according to the American system here today: once a Minister, always a Minister.

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)

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?

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.