Results 481-500 of 5,605 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (10 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: 428. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in Cork city in September 2024. [30184/24]

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

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses for attending and for their presentations. It is very important that we listen to the lived professional experience they have on these issues. It is also vital, as we move forward ourselves, that we look at these issues from all of the different angles. One of the things I have learned since being elected is the risk of potential unintended consequences. We need to...

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

Thomas Gould: From Ms Wilson's experience and looking at it now from her perspective, what could have been done to make this work? If we are looking at decriminalisation, what would be the top two or three things that Ms Wilson would suggest?

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

Thomas Gould: I thank Ms Wilson. I will come back in.

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

Thomas Gould: To follow up on that, Mr. Russoniello stated "Decriminalisation is an important component of a public health approach to drugs, but it should not act alone." Does this mean he believes an increase in services is needed in tandem with decriminalisation for it to be successful or do these services need to be in place first? Mr. Russoniello also said that if you were to wait for services, you...

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

Thomas Gould: I suppose the point is that for decriminalisation it to be successful, ideally everything would come together to give it the best chance of success. Is that a fair point?

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

Thomas Gould: Does Ms Wilson agree that for decriminalisation to be successful and to give it the best chance, everything needs to be tied in?

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

Thomas Gould: On cannabis, one of the witnesses made the point that it is now treated almost like alcohol in that people cannot consume it in public but they can get it in certain stores. Are there issues with cannabis being used in public? Does that issue come up?

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

Thomas Gould: Does Mr. Russoniello have the same experience in Oregon with respect to cannabis?

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

Thomas Gould: When decriminalisation was introduced, did it result in the police having more manpower and time to concentrate on the serious criminals because they were not arresting people for small amounts or for personal use? Was there a benefit? The main traffickers and suppliers had to be tackled. Did it make any difference from a policing point of view?

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

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses for their presentations today. Someone made the point earlier that sometimes Oregon is used as an example of what went wrong. From the information the witnesses have provided today about British Columbia, it is to be hoped we can learn from these experiences. It is a pity that, due to Covid and the arrival of fentanyl, the region faced the perfect storm in drug terms....

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

Thomas Gould: I have one last question and I will come in again later with questions for the other witness. Ms Wilson outlined that consumption facilities or services were available for people in British Columbia. Was it that there were not enough? Was funding reduced? Were people still using the facilities in the same way they did before? Did their use increase or stay the same?

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: I acknowledge that this Bill has been brought forward quickly and in a constructive manner. We have worked with the Government to ensure that what is proposed in the Bill will happen as swiftly as possible in order to try to make sure students are not forced into these leases in September. We need to make sure that the President will be in a position to sign the Bill into law as soon as...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: There are 4,000 children homeless.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: 391. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total number of affordable homes that have been built in Cork county in each of the past five years; the total amount planned for 2024; the total funding allocated each year to the local authority to supply affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30175/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: 392. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total number of affordable homes that have been built in Cork city in each of the past five years; the total amount planned for 2024; the total funding allocated each year to the local authority to supply affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30174/24]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Licences (9 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: 581. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of concerns about a licence application by an organisation (details supplied). [29572/24]

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: We will not support the Bill because it is not the step forward in tackling smoking the State needs. Under-18s smoke and have access to cigarettes. If we are concerned with enforcement, maybe that is where we should be concentrating instead creating a new law that will not be enforceable and will be flouted. With this Bill, we are creating a situation where 18-year-olds can go into a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: I just want to make it clear: the Minister agrees with me that Parnell Place bus station is in a shocking condition at the moment and then in the same tone, he said that funding might be there in two years' time. We need funding now. We need a proper bus station now. We need proper bus, toilet and changing facilities. The Minister outlined everything that is being done but another...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Road Tolls (4 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: With regard to the announcement that this road could be tolled, or that tolling is being considered - according to what the Minister is outlining here - we have seen other roads that had been tolled, like the M8, and we have seen increases in those tolls even though the money invested originally by the private sector has long been paid back. Multiples of it have been paid back and still they...