Results 701-720 of 1,063,833 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Seán Haughey OR speaker:Seán Crowe OR speaker:Seán Sherlock OR speaker:Catherine Connolly)

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: Mr. Doherty said that drugs are no longer sexy. I would argue that we have been in denial for decades regarding the challenge of drugs. Many of us thought that with the emergence of crack cocaine in communities, women being turned into prostitutes, people going into houses without a stick of furniture and children going hungry it would be a wake-up call. It is probably only certain...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: In the task force meetings, a disproportionate amount of time is spent every meeting on funding. It is funding, funding, funding. We should be strategising and talking about the issues, not this idea of funding. There will be common agreement on the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, money. I read a report that stated the Garda recovered something like €20 million in cash alone. Why is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: I do not think I have time. We are supposed to be finished by 11 o'clock. Can we perhaps focus on discussing with the Minister of State what has been raised this morning? We really appreciate the witnesses coming in. It was really useful. I apologise if anyone else was trying to get in. I thank the representatives from the local drugs and alcohol task force chairpersons' network for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: We can do that, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: Okay. The meeting is now suspended. We will resume very shortly with the Minister of State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: The committee will now resume its consideration of issues facing local drug and alcohol task forces. I have received an apology from Senator Frances Black who has had to leave to introduce a Bill in the Seanad. I am pleased to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Burke, who has responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy. He is accompanied, from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: Deputy, can we-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: I know you did not because no one has spoken. Can we finish up?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: Okay. Thank you. I am just conscious if we want to let everyone in, people will have to stick to the ten minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: I have to bring an end to the Deputy’s questions. I will let the witnesses respond to one point, but I need to move on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: I call Deputy Hourigan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: I am over time. I am conscious that several members want to contribute.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: I thank Senator Conway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: I cannot allow Deputy Kenny any more time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: The last group that was in here talked about drug task forces and the importance of decision-makers being around the table. This is an old chestnut. It goes back years. We are talking about the pillars of drug rehabilitation. Those that need to be there are education, health, justice, social protection, child and family, and probably others. At some stage, however, a decision was made...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: As regards the other areas, you speak about "a dynamic situation to which policy must adapt in a flexible manner". Respectfully, that does not happen. You mentioned the funding that came for the likes of the cocaine project in Tallaght, which was welcome. They are waiting now. They do not know whether there will be funding for next year; no one has told them. I mentioned the ten...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: We talked earlier about the challenges that exist. People are saying they have never seen things as bad in communities. We need an injection of hope and reality. The idea we will have another report will probably garner a collective groan from many of us, but that is part of what needs to be done in this regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: Yes. There is a huge amount of work there, and we send our commendations to all those task forces that are operating, under difficult circumstances in a lot of cases. If I had the time, we would go into a lot more. I thank the Minister of State and his officials for meeting this morning with the committee on the issue of the local drug and alcohol task forces. This is probably the last...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: Thank you. I hope we will all be back here safe and well in a couple of weeks' time, but if not, thank you again for everything. The meeting is now adjourned until Tuesday-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Crowe: Thank you. The meeting is now adjourned until, possibly, 4 p.m. on Tuesday, 12 November, when the committee will meet in private session.