Results 381-400 of 1,063,546 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:John Dolan OR speaker:Denis Naughten OR speaker:Barry Cowen OR speaker:Malcolm Noonan OR speaker:Paul McAuliffe OR speaker:Richard Bruton OR speaker:Darragh O'Brien OR speaker:Martin Browne OR speaker:Jennifer Whitmore OR speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Brendan Griffin OR speaker:Seán Haughey OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Cian O'Callaghan OR speaker:Emer Higgins OR speaker:Martin Heydon)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Ireland remains steadfast in our support for the people and Government of Ukraine. The conflict, since the illegal Russian invasion in February 2022, continues to drive the numbers of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. As Ukraine faces into another harsh winter, Ireland's humanitarian funding will continue to target the most...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge the announcement last month of that €36 million. It is very welcome. Perhaps the Minister of State will give the House an estimate on the overall contribution the State has made on that fund since its inception in 2022. One of the most reprehensible acts that has been done in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is the forced deportation of...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: I will let the next speaker go as I have just come in from the public accounts committee. I will come in after that.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: I thank all the witnesses for being here, especially Mr. Duffin. We have talked about this many times and it is good to see us at a point where an Oireachtas committee is considering a health-led approach. It is my view we should move towards such an approach. As the people who are interested in this committee are all in the same space, sometimes we are preaching to the converted, so I...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: I suppose that is part of the challenge in that as we start to think about this issue, people do not want to make things worse. Most people are in that space. As they do not want to make things worse, there is a lot of consensus now building around the health-led approach. As we delve more into it, however, there is the spectre of the industry being there and the intimidation, gangland...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: Even if no change is made, a lot of people will ask why not put more people through the drugs court; why is it not operating nationally,; why do we not do more and is that model not used more? Will the witnesses answer some of those questions?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: I will ask about mental health because often we find, and it was part of the dual diagnosis report conducted by the Finglas Addiction Support Team, FAST, and DCU, that so much of the two issues are interlinked. From the witnesses' work in the drugs court, and Mr. Duffin's at Ana Liffey, will they paint a picture of how much of a role mental health plays in the area of addiction?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: Is that about trying to find places for treatment?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: And Mr. Duffin?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I appreciate the witnesses' being here. My first questions are for Ana Liffey. Previously those working in the addiction sector have raised concerns about bureaucracy, red tape and engagement on research through the HRB. They say it is an added layer of work that sometimes acts as a barrier to supporting their clients. Has Mr. Duffin found that?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: However, Ana Liffey needs resources to do that type of work. My point is that we do not want workers who do work specifically for clients being diverted to doing administration or research, which are also very important. In order to make decisions, we need accurate data.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: However, Ana Liffey should not be pulling resources from services to do that.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: My colleague and friend Deputy Maurice Quinlivan from Limerick told me about the Ana Liffey's brilliant LEAR project. I ask Mr. Duffin to outline-----

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: That is good to hear. Regarding the drug courts, how long do interactions with a person last in the drug treatment court on average? Is the programme still a pilot? Are there plans to expand it to other cities?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: My question was on the average length of time in the system. Ms Foley said it is about 24 months.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: My next question is for all the guests. Are there supports to prevent staff turnover and burnout in their services? Have they experience of these problems? What could we do to keep staff? When we lose staff, we lose expertise, including that of people on the front line doing very critical work. Have the guests a comment to make on that?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I do not mean my last question to be political but it has to be. The budget was announced last week and we are here today to consider the recommendations of the citizens’ assembly. Do the witnesses feel the budget will provide the funding needed to deliver what was recommended by the assembly?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: It is probably unfair to ask the question. There was not a single word about addiction in the budget. There are citizens’ assembly recommendations and we are now trying to introduce a policy, having listened to those present and many other groups, but I do not believe there is the will in certain parts of the Government and the Department, to be realistic. We have been talking about...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I have to go back to the Chamber. In case the witnesses are not here when I come back, I thank them for their attendance. I apologise that I have had to be in and out of meetings and the Chamber.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Thomas Gould: I am sorry Chair, I would like to apologise. As I said earlier, I had to pop out as I was speaking in the Chamber. I would like to make a comment.