Results 401-420 of 1,080,761 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (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)

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)

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.

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

Mark Ward: Our position was misconstrued and not given correctly. I want to put the record straight.

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

Mark Ward: There was a statement made that there was nothing at the Sinn Féin Ard-Fheis in respect of decriminalisation. I point out to Senator Ruane that we had a very comprehensive motion at the Ard-Fheis, motion No. 94 - I wrote the motion so I know it - that accepts all the recommendations of the citizens' assembly, including decriminalisation of drug use. Senator Ruane referred to people...

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

Mark Ward: There is an argument that not everybody found in simple possession needs to go through a health-led approach. They may be using drugs recreationally and may not have any other problems, in the same way that people use alcohol at the weekends. Is it a waste of resources to direct people in that cohort to a health-led approach? That seems to be the conversation at the moment, that everybody...

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

Mark Ward: That is fine. I thank Ms Brennan.

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Deputy Ward has laid out Sinn Féin's support for all of the recommendations of the citizens' assembly. I do not know how many times I have spoken in the Dáil about decriminalisation, a health-led approach and the fact that the war on drugs, this farce we have all engaged with internationally, has not worked in any way, shape or form. What I was talking about was my absolute...

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Any point in respect of diversion-----

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: It was two weeks ago that the Senator was rowing with me.

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I would like to point out that I believe the issue of drug debt intimidation has a very significant impact on communities. I believe that drug dealing and criminality has a very serious impact. I believe that people who should get-----

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I believe that people who should get supports-----