Results 721-740 of 1,066,283 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Mark Ward OR speaker:Colm Burke OR speaker:Holly Cairns OR speaker:Joe O'Brien OR speaker:John McGuinness OR speaker:Gino Kenny)
- 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)
Gino Kenny: I want to drill down into the figures around the problematic use of drugs and those who are seeking treatment, although I am not sure the Department can give a breakdown of this. The figures are startling and they have increased by nearly 50% since 2017. Can the Department give a breakdown of the substances that people are seeking treatment for, in particular with regard to problematic...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Gino Kenny: There is a definite trend since 2017 in the context of those presenting with an addiction to cocaine and the decline in heroin use.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Gino Kenny: There appears to be roughly a 50% increase. Mr. Walsh spoke about prescribed drugs and polydrug use, could he identify a percentage out of that 50%?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Gino Kenny: Would it represent a higher percentage of that 50%?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Gino Kenny: Does the polydrug use involve prescribed drugs?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Gino Kenny: I think "leakage" is the term used.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Gino Kenny: I ask Mr. Walsh to send those figures on when he gets a chance. The Department is compiling the new national drugs strategy. Given the citizens' assembly's recommendations and the special committee on drug use, how effective will that strategy be in the context of the provision of amending legislation? The soundings thus far from Government are that it will not go near the misuse of...
- 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)
Gino Kenny: There is definitely a shift in public opinion, as reflected in the citizens' assembly and the special committee, to the effect that we need to do something very different from what we have been doing for the past four or five years.