Results 3,281-3,300 of 3,644 for speaker:Mark Ward

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (25 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: The Government has sat on its hands when it comes to reform of the Special Criminal Court. It has sat on the review for more than a year. There is no sign of any progress. We need a more modern understanding of the threats to the security of the State that originate from organised criminal gangs. We need action and we need reform. I do not see how laws created in the 1940s can possibly...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: Ireland's recognition of the State of Palestine last month was a welcome development. The recognition of Palestine was important for symbolic reasons. It was the result of decades of campaigning by many groups and individuals right across the State. Despite the Government's misgivings, the sky did not fall in, but the sky is falling in on Palestine right now. Sanctioning Israel has...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank the witnesses for their compelling statements. Nobody listening in will disagree that the war on drugs has failed. As Ms Eastwood said, prohibition is not working and punitive policies are killing people. Nobody can disagree with that. I have a couple of questions for Professor Stevens initially. He said that it is not just a question of a binary choice between prohibition and...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: Does Professor Stevens have any international best practice examples of how possession for personal use was calculated? Was it by amount, by weight or by cost?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: One of the other issues that needs to be considered in the context of decriminalisation is the use of drugs in public spaces. Is there international best practice, examples of how that worked or different ways of doing it, where there were or were not punitive responses to using drugs in a public space?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: Where decriminalisation has come in, has it led to a decrease in stop and search activities for the general public? When I was growing up, it was a common occurrence in my area. Going to the shop was like running the gauntlet.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank the Chair. I will talk a bit more about practical matters. If we were to decriminalise drugs in Ireland tomorrow, it simply would not work. We do not have the necessary resources to direct people to health-led approaches. I have worked in front-line addiction services right across Dublin and outside of Dublin through the years. I have vast experience of working in services that...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: I agree wholeheartedly. I do not know the statistics but there is a cohort of people who can use drugs safely in a recreational manner on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis wherever they choose. I 100% agree with that. My point, however, is that the citizens' assembly stated that people must be led into a health-led approach. If we are putting the resources into trying to help...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (2 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: 275. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the provisions in place for community and voluntary organisations to support them financially when the auto-enrolment into pensions comes into effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27871/24]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (2 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: 300. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the long-term plans for the progression unit in Mountjoy Prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27872/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Budget 2024 (2 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: 472. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 636 of 30 April 2024, to report the item and amount per item, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28217/24]

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this motion. Ireland prides itself as a neutral and peaceful nation. Our neutrality is a strength. It is valued and supported by the Irish people. On the international stage our neutrality has underpinned our contribution to peacemaking and diplomacy and has never been a weakness. In the Tánaiste's opening comments at the...

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: We need to address the chronic underinvestment in our Defence Forces to allow Ireland to continue to participate in UN peacekeeping missions, to defend and monitor our skies and seas and to protect Ireland from real threats we face including cyberattacks. I have spoken many times on matters of defence in this Dáil. I mentioned before that my own father spent 25 years in the Army....

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: I will counteract that. We have a situation now where people who go away for six months, serve in the United Nations, come back and have to sign on for the working family payment. That is the truth because the pay is that low.

Defence Forces: Motions (3 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: I can send the details about this. The pay is so low that soldiers are coming back from United Nations peacekeeping missions and having to claim the working family payment. That is a damning indictment on the Government. Pay and conditions within the Defence Forces have been something my Sinn Féin colleagues and I have raised regularly and they need to improve. This is how you...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank the witnesses. It is extremely helpful to hear this international experience and I thank them for bringing it to us. Deputy Chief Constable Wilson highlighted some of the unintended consequences of decriminalisation in British Columbia. The use of drugs in public spaces such as parks and beaches, and on public transport, had an adverse effect on society and small businesses. I am...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: I mentioned already that alcohol is legal but being drunk and disorderly is an offence. Was any consideration given to using simple public order offences to deal with problematic drug use?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: I have a question for Mr. Russoniello - I probably pronounced that really wrong. He mentioned the relentless opposition of decriminalisation by police agencies. Prior to the introduction of measure 110, did engagement happen with the police agencies? What changed? Were the engagements prior to 110 positive and productive? What changed then?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: Would it be important, at the earliest onset of any talks about decriminalisation, to have the police agency on board and bring them along?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Mark Ward: Just to follow Deputy Stanton's question on how it was decided what drugs would be decriminalised for personal use. Deputy Chief Constable Wilson's opening statement mentioned opiates, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamines but she just mentioned fentanyl there. Given what Mr. Russoniello said about fentanyl being a driver for overdose and I know that in Oregon as well, fentanyl was included...