Results 21-40 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I thank Dr. Ó Concubhair. In Mr. Glynn's opening statement, he said he has seen at first hand how police powers under the Misuse of Drugs Act are used, abused and misused by police officers. It is important to point out that he is talking, I presume, in a UK context and in reference to the UK legislation. Will he elaborate on what he called the use, abuse and misuse by police officers...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I noticed Dr. Ó Concubhair nodding in agreement throughout some of what Mr. Glynn said, in particular around the overuse or misuse of search powers. Does he agree there is an overuse in the United Kingdom or does he think there is an overuse of similar powers here?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I was going to ask about that.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: It is important to say the Garda Commissioner will be at the committee. In a way, it is unfortunate there will be a gap in committee meetings but the timing of the committee is as it is and we have to move forward. I hope those points will be put to the Garda Commissioner but it will not be by me.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: Did Deputy Kenny want to come back in?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: Conversely, the legalisation and regulation of alcohol in Ireland did not necessarily prevent the sale of illicit alcohol. I do not know what the story is in Dublin, but in Clare you will still see bottles of poitín on occasion. Has anybody ever studied the factors that led to a reduction in the production and sale of illicit alcohol in tandem with the sale of lawful, regulated,...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I thank Dr. Ó Concubhair and Mr. Glynn very much for staying with us this morning and for the information they have imparted to us. It has certainly been very interesting and useful. Today is my last day as Chair of this committee. I wish to put on the record formally that I hope some of the observations made on An Garda Síochána might be put to it as a matter of fairness...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: That is not what I asked, in fairness.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I raise the case of a young man which exemplifies much of what is not working in our asylum system. His name is Tayeb. He lives in Scariff, County Clare. The Taoiseach will know Scariff; he was there a few months ago to announce public expenditure and forget to invite public representatives from outside the Government parties. That can happen.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I was there. People in Scariff are hospitable and few would remind the Taoiseach of that. They are generally kind and forgiving people. Tayeb quite likes it there but there is no university in Scariff. He has been offered a place in UCD which he wants to take up. He wants to get on with his life. He applied for asylum on 5 January along with his parents. He made his way from Gaza to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: It was all the other public representatives who were not there.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Jul 2024)

Michael McNamara: I completely understand the State cannot accommodate people where they want to be accommodated. That is not my complaint; my complaint is he cannot work to earn the money to pay for accommodation in Dublin. The Taoiseach says people can apply after five months and then it takes ten weeks but they have a right after six months so the Taoiseach is implicitly acknowledging the right to work...

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

Michael McNamara: Three members are physically present in the committee room and the others are online. Senator O’Hara and Deputy Stanton are online. We are waiting for Mr. Kellen Russoniello. I thank Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Wilson for agreeing to speak with us this evening, though it is obviously not evening in Vancouver. I am waiting for the other witness to join us. I will wait a moment...

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

Michael McNamara: I wish to advise members and witnesses on privilege. Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to the utterances of members and anybody participating online in a committee meeting when their participation is within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurances in respect of participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts and contributors should be mindful of...

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

Michael McNamara: I thank Deputy Chief Constable Wilson. I now call on our second witness, Mr. Kellen Russonielo, to give his opening statement. I hope I have pronounced his surname properly.

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

Michael McNamara: Please go ahead.

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

Michael McNamara: I thank Mr. Russoniello and will now open the floor to members, who I am sure will have a lot of questions for both witnesses based on their very informative presentations. Does Senator Sherlock wish to go ahead?

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

Michael McNamara: I will swap Senator Fitzpatrick for Deputy Murnane O'Connor, if that is okay.

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

Michael McNamara: Was Deputy Stanton hoping to come back in again?

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

Michael McNamara: Deputy Ward is before Deputy Gould.