Results 421-440 of 1,096,272 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Neale Richmond OR speaker:Jennifer Carroll MacNeill OR speaker:Denis Naughten OR speaker:Mark Ward OR speaker:Michael McGrath OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Gerald Nash OR speaker:Matt Carthy OR speaker:Imelda Munster OR speaker:Colm Brophy OR speaker:Robert Troy OR speaker:Jennifer Whitmore OR speaker:Gino Kenny OR speaker:Ciarán Cannon OR speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice OR speaker:Paul McAuliffe OR speaker:Darren O'Rourke OR speaker:Dara Calleary OR speaker:Alan Kelly OR speaker:Darragh O'Brien OR speaker:Helen McEntee OR speaker:Eamon Ryan OR speaker:Joe O'Brien OR speaker:James Browne OR speaker:Johnny Mythen) in 'Committee meetings'

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

Gino Kenny: It sits 48 times a year, therefore. Is that correct?

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

Gino Kenny: How many people tend to come before the court on a given Wednesday?

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

Gino Kenny: Does it tend to be the same 20 people every week or does it change?

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

Gino Kenny: It is a very good concept. The first time I saw it was in Philly McMahon's very good documentary, which showed the positive sides of diversion, education and so forth. My understanding is that the programme tries to separate the issues of dependency, sanctioning and the person. What is the interaction between the judge and the person who is there? What happens?

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

Gino Kenny: Can the judge issue any sanction against that person at any time?

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

Gino Kenny: I do not mean a criminal sanction. Can the judge say they feel the person is not progressing in the way they should be and that this court may not be suitable for the person?

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

Gino Kenny: What does progress look like? If someone has problematic use of a substance, what does progress look like in getting to the gold standard, the gold medal as such?

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

Gino Kenny: Would the drug treatment court deal with a cohort of people who may not necessarily use cannabis every day but will use it frequently in the course of a week?

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

Gino Kenny: The citizens' assembly made recommendations on diversion. If somebody uses drugs but their use is not problematic, it is a waste of State resources to tell them they have a problem, even though they may not have a problem. There are lots of people who use drugs but do not have a problem with substance use. We need to have a further debate on drug abuse and drug use. If people want to use...

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

Gino Kenny: That is a good point. We will move on to the next round of questions. Does Deputy Stanton wish to make a contribution?

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

Gino Kenny: Our next speaker is Deputy Ward.

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)

Gino Kenny: I will stop the Deputy there. We are not getting into a slagging match. If there are questions to be asked-----

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)

Gino Kenny: Any questions should be directed towards our guests.

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)

Gino Kenny: Okay.

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.