Results 3,421-3,440 of 3,644 for speaker:Mark Ward

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Yes.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: That answers my second question as well because I was wondering about the criteria. I worked in addiction services. I used to work in ones out in Clondalkin and at that time, people there were not able to go to the drug treatment courts because of the criteria. Ms Brennan said 699 individuals have gone through the drug treatment courts since 2001. To me that is 30 individuals per year on...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Okay. The drug treatment court has a requirement for being drug-free. Does that include prescription methadone or anything like that?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: It is just street drugs.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I have a question for Mr. Duffin as well. I am aware of his operation in Limerick. I used to work for CASP, which had a sister project, the under-18s service in Limerick. I nearly relocated there are at one stage. I banged my head and ended up in this kind of role at the time. Mr. Duffin mentioned an awful lot about what is going on in Dublin. Maurice Quinlivan, our TD in Limerick, who...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: So it is similar.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: On that as well, we have a big problem in Dublin with drug debt intimidation. We have talked about it at the committee before. The DRIVE project has been started here. Is there anything similar in Limerick? What is the experience there with drug debt intimidation?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Is Limerick experiencing the same level of intimidation as Dublin?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Going back to the drug treatment court, does drug debt intimidation come up when people are accessing that court? Has that been experienced at all?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank the Chair.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I have to refute some of what was said. I was at another meeting but I caught the end of some allegations against Sinn Féin.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: There will be questions at the end.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Our position was misconstrued and not given correctly. I want to put the record straight.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: There was a statement made that there was nothing at the Sinn Féin Ard-Fheis in respect of decriminalisation. I point out to Senator Ruane that we had a very comprehensive motion at the Ard-Fheis, motion No. 94 - I wrote the motion so I know it - that accepts all the recommendations of the citizens' assembly, including decriminalisation of drug use. Senator Ruane referred to people...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: There is an argument that not everybody found in simple possession needs to go through a health-led approach. They may be using drugs recreationally and may not have any other problems, in the same way that people use alcohol at the weekends. Is it a waste of resources to direct people in that cohort to a health-led approach? That seems to be the conversation at the moment, that everybody...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: That is fine. I thank Ms Brennan.

World Mental Health Day: Statements (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I do not know how many more engagements we will have from one side of the House to the other. On this World Mental Health Day I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and her staff all the very best. I know we have had political differences over the years but I wish you all the best on World Mental Health Day. I want to thank everybody working in mental health services on World...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (9 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: 221. To ask the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the mental health funding announced in Budget 2025; for a breakdown of new measures funding; to comment on the increase in existing levels of service funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40581/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (9 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: 222. To ask the Minister for Health the level of new funding given to mental health in each budget from 2020 to present; the level of funding for the total mental health budget in each budget from 2020 to present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40582/24]

World Mental Health Day: Statements (10 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank the Minister of State. I really appreciate that. As she knows, this is a vital, life-saving organisation. I often criticise Government policies so I want to spend a bit of time talking about some of the things Sinn Féin would do if it had a chance to be in government. We have produced a mental health action plan comprising several policy documents over the past while. The...