Results 421-440 of 1,038,090 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Steven Matthews OR speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor) in 'Committee meetings'

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses again. This has been a long session and listening to the witnesses has been enlightening. I have picked up a lot from their contributions and I thank them for that. To follow on from Deputy Ward, some of the communities that we represent have been destroyed by drugs. There is a fear factor among those communities around decriminalisation or legalisation. The...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Thomas Gould: Following on from that, Professor Stevens said earlier that reducing penalties for drug possession does not necessarily lead to an increase in use. It is, therefore, a net positive as it reduces the harm and cost of criminalisation while not increasing the harm of drug use. Many of the points the professor has made today have been led by research. Is that right?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank Professor Stevens. In her opening statement, Ms Eastwood stated, "Many governments wrongly believe that decriminalising drug possession will lead to an increase in prevalence. This is not the case." That is following on from what Professor Stevens just said. Is that correct?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Thomas Gould: My final question is for Ms Lawlor. In her submission, she stated: "The impact of criminal records on children and young people is devastating, resulting in stigma and discrimination, diminished access to education and housing, reduced prospects for future employment, and negative impacts on family relationships." Reading about those impacts is shocking.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank Ms Lawlor.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. I looked at Ms Eastwood's paper "A Quiet Revolution" and, in particular, found interesting the findings from Australia on diversion, the reduction in reoffending and the increased employment opportunities that became available through diversion. Will she comment on that?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: I hope it will not be my last.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: So I am told. I have a couple of questions to put to the team. If they are not answerable today, I am happy to take them again. I will might come back in if there is a second round of questions. I compliment the delivery of driver's licence applications and the changes there. Mr. Waide touched on it earlier. There was a delivery of four or five days. I got mine in two days -...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: That was my point. If we can see the common trends, I presume a request has to be made for the resources to manage those and upscale the various teams. I appreciate Mr. Walsh’s reply. During Covid, a decision was made that vehicles did not need to have NCTs or CVRTs in order to be taxed. That requirement never returned. If they do not need it to be taxed, is there a link with...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: Fair enough. I am interested in the science behind the ads that are made for, and with, the RSA. Ms O’Connor spoke about the great deal of research that has been done to judge the impact of those ads. We had this conversation many years ago. Lotto ads are successful. They convince us all that we will win the lotto with “It could be you”, so we all go out and do it....

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: Is that analsyed? Attitude is a major issue. We can do all we can in terms of enforcement, but there has been a serious change in attitude in many parts of our lives in recent years. I will not say why, but since that dreaded occasion, people’s attitudes have slipped backwards where road safety is concerned but not where other issues are concerned. Is there science behind this?...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: I thank Ms O’Connor. I wish to raise three issues about schools, although I would be happy to get the responses at the end of the meeting.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: The RSA is involved in the promotion of road safety around schools. How involved is it with schools? Is that at primary, secondary or third level? Where does the RSA mainly focus and from where is the best benefit derived? Much more can be done in this regard. We cannot expect schools to do everything and there is a role for the RSA. I presume it is engaging with them. What has been...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: It is an issue that is often raised with Deputies, as there is a demand for buses and bus drivers. Our understanding is that people cannot drive with Bus Éireann if they are aged over 70, yet they can return to the same schools at 9.30 a.m. and drive the same kids in the same buses to football matches on private contracts. They just cannot do the school runs.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: Has the RSA a role in that rule?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: That is my question. I want to understand the science behind it.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: I know I am over time, but could Mr. Rowland furnish us with Professor O'Neill's advice or guidance? I thought it was the RSA which-----

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: On that point, does the same advice not counter the information about going to a football match a half an hour later? I refer to situations where the same driver is employed privately.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Road Safety Authority (27 Jun 2024)

Damien English: Does the RSA have a view on this?