Results 401-420 of 1,076,966 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Ivana Bacik OR speaker:Michael McNamara OR speaker:Gary Gannon OR speaker:Dara Calleary OR speaker:Michael Moynihan OR speaker:John Lahart OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:James O'Connor OR speaker:Brendan Griffin OR speaker:Michael McGrath OR speaker:John Brady OR speaker:James Browne OR speaker:Gino Kenny OR speaker:Patrick Costello OR speaker:Ciarán Cannon OR speaker:David Stanton OR speaker:Réada Cronin OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Róisín Shortall OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan) in 'Committee meetings'

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

Gino Kenny: Apologies have been received from Deputy Matt Shanahan and Senators Malachai O'Hara and Mary Seery-Kearney. Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to the utterances of members participating online in a committee meeting when their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurances with regard to participation online from outside the parliamentary...

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

Gino Kenny: I thank Ms Brennan and congratulate her on her new role.

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

Gino Kenny: I now invite Mr. Tony Duffin to make his opening statement.

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

Gino Kenny: I thank Mr. Duffin for that statement. We will now move on to the members. Each member has seven minutes to put questions and make a contribution. Our first contributor is Deputy Stanton.

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

David Stanton: I apologise that I will have to leave in a few minutes. There is another meeting on next door dealing with Traveller issues. There are overlaps here as well. People in the Traveller community are also affected by drug use. Professor Michael O'Flaherty, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, is before that committee this morning but I hope to get back. A number of...

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

David Stanton: Okay. It seems to mirror the same kind of approach whereby a person is looked on as an individual. They approach the judge and are given an opportunity to engage in restorative justice or in community service. However, the crucial parts are the psychological and social supports and so forth that are in place behind them as well. Does Ms Brennan think there are enough such supports here?...

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

David Stanton: I have to leave, unfortunately.

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

Gino Kenny: Deputy McAuliffe is next.

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

Gino Kenny: No problem. I call Deputy Ward.

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.