Results 321-340 of 3,610 for speaker:Mark Ward

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]

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...

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...

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...

Committee on Drugs Use: Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health (20 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh Gníomhach. I thank the witnesses for coming in and giving their opening statements. I read them with great interest before coming in. I have worked in front-line addiction services across Dublin and outside of Dublin for many years. I have worked in HSE facilities and in community-based services. I have worked in HSE and statutory methadone...

Committee on Drugs Use: Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health (20 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: I think Dr. Keenan is misinterpreting me. I said that methadone maintenance has a place in harm reduction - it definitely does - but I emphasised the barriers that people face when they want to come off it at that stage in their lives. Sometimes there might only be a small window of opportunity for a person to be a able to decide this is the right time for them to come off methadone. They...

Committee on Drugs Use: Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health (20 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: I will keep my questions for the Department Justice. I have zero interest in criminalising people for simple possession who are in addiction. I do have an interest in tackling those in organised crime who are making vast amounts of money from other people's misery. Young people, especially in disadvantaged areas in my area, are attracted by the lifestyle, the flash runners, the fancy cars...

Committee on Drugs Use: Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health (20 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: What about a form of lifestyle - being able to go across the water to any soccer match they want or eat in any restaurant they want? They are probably not working or if they are working, they are not in a job where their means match their lifestyle. Does the Department of Justice or An Garda Síochána have the ability to go after these people and ask them how they are funding that...

Committee on Drugs Use: Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health (20 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: It is hard to take back a €100 steak after it has been eaten. That is what I am talking about. It is about the lifestyle.

Committee on Drugs Use: Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health (20 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: A new law was introduced recently concerning the coercion of a minor. Has anybody been convicted of this or have any cases been taken?

Committee on Drugs Use: Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health (20 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: Given the way it is written and laid out in legislation, will it be a useful tool for An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice in going after these people?

Committee on Drugs Use: Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health (20 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: I have a comment and a question for the Department of Health. I went on the interactive map of addiction services this morning before I came to the meeting. I found it a bit clunky. It is probably still a work in progress, and I am not the best when it comes to IT. There is duplication of some services. I would bring that to the Department's attention. I had a particular look at...

Committee on Drugs Use: Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health (20 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: I have limited time.

Committee on Drugs Use: Drug Use Policy: HSE, Department of Justice and Department of Health (20 Jun 2024)

Mark Ward: Before it became a dual diagnosis service, Keltoi was also open to other people. For example, if someone was doing a methadone detox in Cuan Dara in Cherry Orchard, there was a door-to-door service whereby they could detox in Cuan Dara and then start their rehabilitation journey in Keltoi. That is the piece of the jigsaw that is missing. People finish their detox and, more than likely,...