Results 341-360 of 1,033,933 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Gerald Nash OR speaker:Johnny Guirke)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: The Garda is spending a huge amount of time. Councils do not have the power and Tusla does not have the tools. The Garda does not have the tools at this point in time to deal with these sorts of issues.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: Deputy-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: It is a huge draw on resources.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: There are a number of contributors - four extra speakers now. These questions are not grouped. I ask everyone to be as quick as possible because there are Members waiting for their tabled questions and we will finish at 10.30 a.m. I call Deputy Alan Farrell first.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Alan Farrell: I welcome the question and the answer. I particularly welcome the reference to the recreational use of cocaine, which is an absolute scourge on our society. It is right across this country. It is not confined to any particular community; it is everywhere. One of the big issues I have is bringing awareness to those recreational users that they are directly funding organised drug groups,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Cathal Crowe: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for accommodating me. I agree that the only way to deal with this is to hit them where it hurts, that is, in the pocket. CAB has done a lot of good work on it. It seems to me often that the focus of CAB is on the people whose names feature on the front page of the Sunday World every weekend. However, there is a need to get involved at a community level as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I acknowledge the successes of An Garda Síochána, particularly in recent times, by way of interruption and seizing large amounts of illicit drugs. I support the Minister in her efforts to bring about a reduction in drug usage in this country. We need to have a debate but I do not propose to have it here today. Some in the community will say that this needs to be dealt with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with the previous speakers. I see the scourge of drugs everywhere. It is about communities. Families come into my clinics heartbroken. Families need to borrow money to pay back the bills for their children who are taking drugs, which is unacceptable. We need to do campaigns and get some sort of help for these families and for the children or people who are taking the drugs. It...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: We need to come at this from a number of different angles. There is not one single solution to resolve what is a problem not just in Ireland but right across the world. We need to continue to invest in and support An Garda Síochána to work with its partners across the globe to try to tackle at source the organised crime groups and those who are responsible for producing this. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: There are four Members present who have questions. With everyone's co-operation, we will get to those four questions.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 13. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí, as well as Garda staff, assigned to Borris, Carlow, Hacketstown, Muine Bheag, Myshall, Rathvilly and Tullow stations. [38008/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I wish to know the number of gardaí, as well as Garda staff, assigned to Borris, Carlow, Hacketstown, Bagenalstown, Myshall, Rathvilly and Tullow stations.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter on the number of gardaí, as well as Garda staff, assigned to Borris, Carlow, Hacketstown, Muine Bheag, Myshall, Rathvilly and Tullow stations. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: Again I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter of the number of gardaí. There is a significant increase in the number of Garda trainees going through Templemore to address the challenge around Garda numbers. On rural community safety, we have the rural safety forum, which has established the rural safety plan, published in 2022, which we are now working to update. It is an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

James O'Connor: While I am on my feet discussing this issue, it is important also to discuss morale within An Garda Síochána. I speak to many people around my own age - I am 27 years of age - who have come through the Garda training college and are going into the force. Another issue that is important in rural Ireland is garda transfers. Many members of An Garda Síochána come to me...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: Before the Minister of State comes back in, there are numerous other Deputies wishing to contribute. I ask them to be brief because there are Members here waiting for their questions to be taken.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

Cathal Crowe: I commend Deputy O'Connor for his very important question. He mentioned that the situation could be at crisis point. I would say that in many corners of Ireland, it already is. I can tell the Minister of State, following contact I have had from the Garda representative organisation, that there is a functional policing area, I will not say where, that straddles two counties and covers a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The senior Minister will be well familiar with the fact that my county has the lowest number of gardaí per head of population. It is not just the lowest number but the lowest by far. The difference between the lowest and the highest is double, so there are twice as many gardaí per head of population in Waterford at the top of the list as there is in Meath at the bottom of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

David Stanton: Would the Minister of State agree with me that a lot of Garda time is spent on bureaucracy, behind computers, filling out forms, writing reports and so on when they should be on the beat? There is serious frustration there because of that. Have any studies been carried out in respect of this and can anything be done to alleviate the issue?