Results 401-420 of 1,085,780 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Duncan Smith OR speaker:Cian O'Callaghan OR speaker:Denis Naughten OR speaker:Gary Gannon OR speaker:Dara Calleary OR speaker:Mark Ward OR speaker:Joe Flaherty OR speaker:Carol Nolan OR speaker:Sorca Clarke OR speaker:Roderic O'Gorman OR speaker:Michael Collins OR speaker:Claire Kerrane OR speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Louise O'Reilly OR speaker:Niamh Smyth OR speaker:Pearse Doherty OR speaker:Martin Kenny OR speaker:Patrick Costello OR speaker:Patricia Ryan OR speaker:Martin Heydon OR speaker:Matt Carthy OR speaker:David Stanton) in 'Committee meetings'

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

Mark Ward: Going back to the drug treatment court, does drug debt intimidation come up when people are accessing that court? Has that been experienced at all?

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

Mark Ward: I thank the Chair.

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)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Go raibh maith agaibh agus fáilte romhaibh anseo. I wish to follow on from what Deputy Gould said on the funding of the national drugs strategy. Although the costings are not available and a determination has to be made on the actions proposed by the citizens’ assembly, we can state quite categorically that the opposite side is very well funded. That does not look like it will...

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Ms Brennan is saying the review is required and that the system works, but that to do it properly, it will have to be on a much bigger scale. Is that correct?

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I agree. There is still the question of addressing the criminal element and drug debt intimidation. Unfortunately, that is how people are being used. We have seen projects such as Greentown. I spoke to someone lately who told me about county lines and escape lines. It is about real interventions to take kids out of certain circumstances. Dealers are really flexible in how they operate...

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)

David Stanton: I am between two committees so I will listen for a while again. I read the documentation the committee forwarded to me. I will just listen. Senator Ruane has done a lot more than I have on this issue.

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

Mark Ward: I have to refute some of what was said. I was at another meeting but I caught the end of some allegations against Sinn Féin.

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

Mark Ward: There will be questions at the end.