Results 441-460 of 3,842 for speaker:Mark Ward

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I am watching the clock because I am due to speak in the House in a few minutes. I thank everyone for coming in. There is a wealth of experience on their side of the table. It is absolutely fantastic. I am really enjoying the discussion and getting a lot of information from the conversations that are going on. I worked in community-based addiction services for years. I worked in...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: That urine sample defined who you were as a person.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank Dr. Healy. Mr. Mullins mentioned the safe injecting facilities and the one that is due to open later in the year. From talking to him and other people, I know they faced some barriers along the way. Will Mr. Mullins elaborate on some barriers that he faced? How did he overcome them? What conversations did he have with An Garda Síochána? I mentioned that going to the...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Mr. Mullins mentioned moving from safe injecting to drug consumption rooms. Is that to meet the need that exists and do we need that going forward?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: We need to be proactive rather than reactive.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I know Davina. I grew up with her and I have family members who are in the same situation. I am well aware of the story. I know that a different name is being used to protect her identity but it is very common. I worked in front-line addiction services in drop-in centres. It is a fine line to be trained to try to assist people where they are, not where you think they should be, and to do...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Is that training delivered across all community addiction services to upskill any staff who are meeting people?

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Dr. Lambert made an interesting statement that drug use should be seen as a mental health issue. I just came from a debate with the Minister about Keltoi. Dr. Lambert will be aware it is a residential dual diagnosis service that has been closed since 2020. I wanted to know whether there is money in budget 2025 to reopen it as a residential service. It does not look like that will happen...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank the Chairman. Deputy Gould was the first person from his area to be elected. I was going to say I was the first person but Deputy Gino Kenny took that crown off me. I was interested to hear Dr. Lambert's remarks on women experiencing menopause entering into addiction. It brought me back to when I was working in a methadone clinic and we had women - I do not know whether they...

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: On menopause or codeine addiction and methadone, and the correlation between it all.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: While Dr. Lambert was talking, I was thinking about women who engaged with the service. I do not think that question was ever asked.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I do not think they do. The standard HRB forms where they collect the data are still the same and that was not on those forms. I will ask that question and see if there is any way to get it added to that.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: When it was brought up, that brought me back there and I realised that question was never asked.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Maybe that is Dr. Healy's next research piece.

Committee on Drugs Use: A Health-Led Approach: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: As TDs, we are resources, so use as resources. Our door is always open. The witnesses are pushing an open door when it comes to me, so they should come to me.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: 24. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made to date by the productivity and savings task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39161/24]

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: In 2020 we had a scandalous 9,689 children on waiting lists for primary care psychology. Fast forward to 2024 and we now have whopping 18,368 children waiting. This is the Minister's legacy. It is a legacy of heartbreak and children being denied every opportunity to reach their full potential. Sinn Féin has a plan to resolve this. We have an action plan for mental health. We have...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: This is my fifth time responding to a mental health budget. While the Minister of State can mention record budgets all she wants, people want results and I will talk about results. I am going to talk about the Government's legacy in mental health after five years. When it took office, 2,115 children were waiting for CAMHS appointments. Today that figure stands at 3,681, a 74% increase on...