Results 721-740 of 1,066,933 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:M J Nolan OR speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire OR speaker:Denis Naughten OR speaker:Aengus Ó Snodaigh OR speaker:Fergus O'Dowd OR speaker:Seán Sherlock OR speaker:Mary Butler OR speaker:Michael Lowry OR speaker:Colm Brophy OR speaker:Martin Kenny OR speaker:Colm Burke) in 'Committee meetings'
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: The Deputy will also have to take into account-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: I have been in the Department since April and my staff are focused on dealing with the policy area of drugs and alcohol addiction, providing support to the various agencies and liaising with the HSE. They are not-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: The number of people receiving treatment increased by 1,000 last year. It is up to 13,000 for drug addiction and 8,000 for alcohol addiction.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: Absolutely. I have given the figures-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: Which particular aspect of the strategy? Regarding task forces, it is about working in the community. This is where the review arises. We are talking about a new policy from 2025 onwards. All of the parties involved – we already have the citizens’ assembly, the Oireachtas committee-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: My understanding is that we will be working on that and it will be quarter 1 of 2025.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: In any new policy, we have to take into account the citizens’ assembly, the Oireachtas committee and the views expressed in the 800 submissions that Ms McArdle outlined. The Government has the final decision over what the final policy will be, but all of those factors have to be taken into account in finalising the policy document. It is a-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: No, I did not say that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: No.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: Just-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: The final decision on any new strategy has to be taken by the Government. No matter who is in government, it will have to take into account the citizens’ assembly and what came from that, and also what came from the Oireachtas committee, which has produced an interim report. It is on that basis that the next Government will have to sign off on what the new policy will be. We have to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: That is what the Department is doing. This is about drafting policy and about what we have learned from the past. We are doing an evaluation of the existing policy. Therefore, it is about learning from that evaluation and then seeing what is the best way forward in dealing with it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: I never said it would be a rewrite. I am saying that the evaluation has to take place and the Government has to look at the report from the citizens’ assembly and also the interim report from the Oireachtas committee. The Department then has to work with whoever is in this portfolio but also with the new Government regarding the best way forward. Mr. Walsh may wish to add to that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: Since I came in as Minister of State, I have visited many of the treatment centres around the country, from Bray to Waterford, Cork and Limerick - I think I have visited seven different places in Limerick alone - as well as the centres in Dublin. I am at a meeting once a month at the Merchant’s Quay project because I think it is an extremely important project. In that area, it is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: The centres that I visited have a large and dedicated staff. They are all doing the programmes of care in a different way and they seem to have a different approach in each of the individual areas. One of the things that comes across is the dedication and commitment of staff in each of the centres that I visited, whether it is a day centre or a residential centre.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: The question of repealing that section or anything to do with legislation will be a matter for the new government. The decision to bring forward amending legislation will have to be an overall Government decision and will not be a decision within the Department. Obviously, we will not know that until the next government is formed. There is no point going into what will or will not happen....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: No matter what we do, we need to ensure that we continue on with the supports that are there for people who are addicted. An important point about alcohol addiction was made by one of the speakers before I came in. We also have the issue of dual diagnosis involving mental health issues and drug addiction. We need to put in place a range of measures to ensure we can adequately deal with the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: One of the criticisms I have heard was that while Canada changed its legislation, it did not put adequate supports in place. There will be an increase in use if we change the legislation. The illegal drugs market will still remain in place. Many people think that any change in legislation will get rid of the illegal drugs market; it will not.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: All I am saying is that this is an issue for the next government to deal with. I cannot deal with it in the interim.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: In fairness, the supervised injection facility-----