Results 541-560 of 1,037,610 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Michael McNamara OR speaker:Kathleen Funchion OR speaker:Gerald Nash OR speaker:Gino Kenny) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (11 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: There is a lot in the question and a lot in the answer. At the root of it, however, similar to my colleague, Deputy Quinlivan, is the concern about what we are hearing with regard to the readiness of the industry here, whether we look at ports, planning, the grid or supply chain. It is a statement of fact at this stage to say that none of our phase 1 offshore wind farms will be developed on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (11 Jul 2024)

Dara Calleary: I assure the Deputy that we are making very detailed progress in our Department in terms of Powering Prosperity through skills and job and supply chain opportunities. That is acknowledged by the groups with which we are engaging. As the Deputy knows, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has responsibility for future auctions and grid development. The Minister,...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I thank Mr. Leitão da Silva. He acknowledged earlier there was an increase in drug use in Portugal. Obviously, causation and correlation are two very different things, but to what would he attribute this recent increase in drug use?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I do not wish to put words in the witness's mouth but it seems he is attributing the reduction of drug use in Portugal to both the decriminalisation and the increase in funding of harm reduction programmes. Is that correct?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: How can we attribute the reduction of drug use to one over the other? Is there an argument to be made that the most important thing is to fund harm reduction productions and that decriminalisation is very much a secondary element that did not have much of an impact in the reduction? When the funding of the harm reduction programmes is reduced, drug use seems to increase.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: Police officers in Ireland are largely prohibited from expressing political views so Mr. Leitão da Silva may not be able to answer this question, but in response to that increase in drug use, are there increased calls from within the police force for recriminalisation or is that not even being contemplated?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: Mr. Leitão da Silva said drug users are a useful source of information. Is it any easier or harder to avail of or get that information because of decriminalisation? Does it have any impact?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: Thank you, commander. I am aware you have to go at 10.30 a.m., or 11.30 a.m. your time, so I will ask if you can just give three minutes to Deputy Kenny.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Gino Kenny: I thank the commander. It is very refreshing to hear a police officer speaking very frankly about this issue. I have just one question on the illicit market for illegal drugs. Portugal has been more progressive in this regard than Ireland. On the flip side, the illicit market in Ireland is controlled by a number of very violent and powerful criminal gangs. What is the situation in...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Gino Kenny: I thank Mr. Leitão da Silva.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: Has the recent increase in drug use in Portugal been any greater or lesser than in northern Spain or can they be compared? Is current drug use greater or lesser?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: Thank you, commander, for the time you have given to us. I appreciate that you have to go now. We extend our thanks to you.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I now invite Dr. Cian Ó Concubhair to give his opening statement . I thank Dr. Ó Concubhair for sitting through the committee. We had decided it was the best use of time.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I now invite Mr. Glynn to make his opening statement.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I thank Senator Ruane.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I thank Dr. Ó Concubhair. If we are to bring in Mr. Glynn I want to give him a bit of time.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I thank Mr. Glynn. Does Deputy Kenny wish to come in?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Gino Kenny: I thank Mr. Glynn and Dr. Ó Concubhair for their opening statements. My first question is for Dr. Ó Concubhair. This debate has probably evolved in the past five or six years in terms of where people are at, both politicians and the public. We have progressed to a point where people are thinking about alternatives to what we have had in the past six decades, which was a complete...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Gino Kenny: I 100% agree. That is my concern in terms of where this debate is going. Some of us in the committee have those concerns. There is opposition from the top down, and from the bottom up, in terms of where we want to go. When the dust settles on what the committee agrees, the next Government will have to deal with it. There is still huge conservatism among the powers that be, particularly...