Results 541-560 of 1,042,414 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Michael McNamara OR speaker:David Stanton OR speaker:Jim O'Callaghan 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)

David Stanton: I thank the superintendent for being with us and for his work in this area. We visited Portugal a number of years ago and I met a lot of people there who were involved in this project and the policy, which was very impressive. We had a presentation earlier this week from police from Vancouver and someone from the United States about places where there was decriminalisation. It seemed to...

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

David Stanton: Would Mr. Leitão da Silva therefore recommend that if we were to bring in decriminalisation in Ireland that we treat it in a similar way to alcohol, meaning the use of drugs in a public place, as I described earlier, would not be permitted?

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

David Stanton: Okay. It seems in Vancouver and Oregon, the use of drugs in public places derailed the decriminalisation. That was what I understood from the presentation earlier in the week. People were very unsettled and upset. There was a description of people being at the beach with their children and somebody next door visibly using drugs.

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

David Stanton: That seems to have derailed the thing. When I was in Lisbon all those years ago, I made an inquiry with police officers at the time about how it often appears that if you walk down the street you are offered substances. People approach tourists and others and offer substances in small bags. I was told by the police at the time that a lot of that was bogus, fake and not real.

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

David Stanton: A person would not know whether it was or not, but the story here in Ireland is tourists and others are assailed on the streets of Lisbon and other cities with this behaviour. Will Mr. Leitão da Silva comment on that?

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

David Stanton: It gives a very poor picture of Lisbon and cities in Portugal for tourists and others here. When it reaches our airwaves, people talk about it and use it as a reason for not decriminalising. They blame decriminalisation for this, and a liberal approach.

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

David Stanton: That is fine. I cannot see the clock from here. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

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.