Results 901-920 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: He was doing well for the past ten minutes.

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: Wild women——

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: We on this side of the House agree with the Minister of State on that point.

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: The Minister of State finished on time, despite spending a considerable amount of time off-script. It shows, at least, that he is interested in the drugs problem and is probably aware of how serious it is. He is probably quietly ashamed of the Government in this regard, as I am. One of the biggest failures of the two parties in Government over the last ten years is the outright mess that...

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: He said the level of cocaine being seized had increased by 500% since 1995, an indication of the depth of the problem. The only response from the Government, however, has been to fund three pilot projects. One of the Minister of State's answers to a parliamentary question this week indicates that four more are funded.

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: His own figures say three.

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: The pilot project to tackle the cocaine programme is massive and in his own words the Minister of State says: "I am confident that through the implementation of the actions in the National Drugs Strategy the problem of cocaine use can be and is being addressed." The reality is far from that. There is a massive cocaine problem. It runs to billions of euro and the Minister of State is quoted...

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: I do not give a damn. I care about what is happening——

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: ——here. The reality is that there is a serious problem, but the Minister of State does not admit that. He should not try to quote international figures to defend it. That is not good enough. According to his own figures on the waiting lists for methadone treatment from May 2006, some people are waiting 18 months to start a maintenance programme — not for treatment for drugs, just a...

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: I am asking the Minister of State to consider change. Surely, with all the people he has working in this area, some way could be invented to solve the problem. It is not good enough that people known to gardaí are running round the streets every night of the week.

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: They even do deliveries to pubs and estates. One can stand in estates and watch people going to collect their drugs. That is how obvious it is, yet these people who are known to gardaí cannot be touched. There is something seriously wrong there. RAPID is also part of the Minister of State's responsibilities. We recently discussed where the money is being spent and while it is sometimes...

Crime Prevention: Motion. (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: The Government has been in office for long enough.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: Question 332: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied with the extent of after care and out of hour services available to drug misusers, particularly in the north east; if she will provide details of such services as available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31213/06]

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (10 Oct 2006)

Damien English: Question 494: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children who applied for a place in junior infants in 2006 in schools (details supplied) in Dublin 15 but were refused. [31482/06]

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (11 Oct 2006)

Damien English: Question 36: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he will take to bring alternative employment to Ballivor, County Meath following the closure of the NEC plant there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31913/06]

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (12 Oct 2006)

Damien English: Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the personnel strength of the Garda stations in the Louth, Meath division for each of the years 2002 to 2006 inclusive, if he will provide the information in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32521/06]

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)

Damien English: Question 191: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her role to date on the implementation of the nitrates action plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32751/06]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Oct 2006)

Damien English: Question 200: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her Department applies interest on outstanding payments due to farmers, where there has been an underpayment caused by a Departmental error; the interest rate charged in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32470/06]

International Criminal Court Bill 2003: From the Seanad (18 Oct 2006)

Damien English: I am happy to support the amendments. Amendment No. 4 shows how sharp Senator Henry is in spotting the reference to nail clippings. It proves that legislation should not be rushed but given enough time for debate. These two amendments arose at the very end of the discussion on these sections. They are small but detailed amendments and have been accepted only after allowing deliberations....

International Criminal Court Bill 2003: From the Seanad (18 Oct 2006)

Damien English: I wish to comment on the amendments. We tabled amendments in the Seanad that were not taken and we were disappointed by that. We failed under three categories. The Minister's advice from the Attorney General was that we did not have to do this but we believe we have missed the opportunity to ensure Ireland will not be a safe haven for those guilty of genocide, war crimes and so on. The...