Results 21-40 of 72 for speaker:Mal O'Hara

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Mal O'Hara: We have 32 recommendations from the expert review, of which ten have been completed in six years. There has been no completion of some of those relating to governance, although it is a work in progress. I am concerned about the assessments of living conditions, which Deputy Ó Cuív raised earlier. Can the Minister of State give any commitment to the committee about progress on...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Mal O'Hara: Will the Minister of State comment on the assessment of living standards?

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

Mal O'Hara: I thank the witnesses. I will start with Ms Wilson. In her opening statement, she spoke about historic de facto decriminalisation, which was about police using their discretion. Was there a disproportionate impact with that discretion on black, brown, minority and indigenous communities?

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

Mal O'Hara: I thank Ms Wilson. Senator Ruane spoke about prevention and education. It was clear in the opening statements from the witnesses that there were gaps that should have been filled, complementary to the pace of change for decriminalisation. Could the witnesses talk about what those might be?

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

Mal O'Hara: Ms Wilson almost pre-empted my next question. I wanted to talk about drug testing. She referred to the increased toxicity of substances. What is the regime or scheme around testing? Is there any sense of diversionary tactics? She said the police have limited powers with decriminalisation. What would she suggest might be an appropriate diversionary tactic?

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

Mal O'Hara: I asked about diversion.

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

Mal O'Hara: I thank Ms Wilson. In his evidence, Mr. Russoniello said peer-reviewed evidence suggested there was no association with an increase in deaths under measure 110. Could he speak a little more about that? Often the proponents of decriminalisation, myself included, hear pushback that we should look at Oregon, in particular Portland. We need to nail that in terms of the peer-reviewed evidence...

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

Mal O'Hara: I thank the Chair. Being further down the list means lots of my questions have been asked. I thank both witnesses.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2024)

Mal O'Hara: I formally second the proposal.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2024)

Mal O'Hara: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. I thank my colleagues for their good wishes for next week's election in the North. The UK is one of only two places in Europe that uses the first-past-the-post electoral system, the other being the well-known liberal democracy of Belarus. I formally second my colleague, Senator Martin's amendment to the Order of Business today.

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mal O'Hara: I thank Ms Lawlor and Professor Stevens. I particularly welcome Ms Eastwood. I guess that is a northern accent. It is great to hear somebody talk authoritatively on this issue. Does international evidence show that sanctions attached to diversion work? What is the position regarding the discretionary element when it comes to diversion?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mal O'Hara: I thank the witnesses. My second question has two parts. In the expert opinion of our witnesses, is there anything in current policy that is positive? If we maintain any form of status quo, is there anything positive in doing that? The witnesses can provide a very short answer in that regard if they want. Do they think that the citizens' assembly recommendations go far enough?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mal O'Hara: Deputy Hourigan referred to this already referred to potency and the potential for testing drugs. Which avenue provides us with the best opportunity in this regard?

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mal O'Hara: Apologies. I had to nip out to the Seanad. I have a question which might be difficult to answer. Obviously this is a shared island. Does any of the international evidence around a divergence in drug policy approaches between states with a permeable border where people cross freely, where supply markets are all-island-based, and so on, indicate what impact changes that we were to make in...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Mal O'Hara: My apologies that I missed the start of the debate. Forgive me if some of the issues I raise have already been flagged. I want to push back a little on the language we have heard already today. I have a concern that those who often champion our position and use the language about the safety of children have an underlying ideological agenda. Senator Seery Kearney has already clearly...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Mal O'Hara: I will wind up my remarks and come back in later.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Mal O'Hara: I will push back on that a little. I appreciate what Senator Keogan said on fostering. However, the reason we have a higher bar for fostering is not just that it involves children but because they are vulnerable children. That is why we do that piece of work. Not every child who is born necessarily becomes vulnerable. Children are born in safe, loving, supportive, caring and nurturing...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (26 Jun 2024)

Mal O'Hara: I, too, commend the Bill. My colleague's impassioned plea at the end of his contribution suggests the scale of how we need to shift culture. I will talk a little about that. In 2023, more than 40,000 disclosures of abuse were made to Women's Aid, of which 35,000 concerned abuse against women and almost 5,000 concerned abuse against children. That is a marked increase of 18% from 2022. In...

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

Mal O'Hara: I have a few more questions, especially for the Department of Health and the HSE. We got some figures in the opening statement on spend in comparison with other European countries. How does that benchmark against others? Some of the key actions being taken were mentioned. Are there inhibitors to good practice in the Misuse of Drugs Act and, if so, what are they?

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

Mal O'Hara: What are the barriers to international good practice caused by the Misuse of Drugs Act? Perhaps it is a question for the Department of Justice.