Results 561-580 of 5,605 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: I have 14 more questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: What we see now when people get notices to quit is that they feel they will be out with nowhere to go. I have heard stories of where local authorities have advised people who have reached their date to be out to overstay. I personally know many people who have overstayed, are overstaying or will overstay if they cannot find alternative accommodation. When a person overstays, the landlord...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: Has the RTB no idea how many of those it is dealing with? The point Mr. Keegan makes is valid. If there were supply, at least the tenant could then move on to somewhere else, whether rental, cost-rental, affordable or social housing, but if there is a lack of supply, it creates these issues. I deal with people who really respect their landlords and feel their landlords have been fair to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: If there is a good landlord who has given notice to quit and has done everything right, with a tenant who has done everything right, paid his or her bills and been a good tenant, there is a dispute where they should not be a dispute because there is a lack of supply. I am noticing that people are overstaying, waiting for the landlord to take them to court, and then a month or a number of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank the Chair and witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: I am not done but I think it is fair-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: €475,000.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: Is it affordable?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: Answer the question.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: 106. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the actions he will take to improve pay and conditions in the Defence Forces given that one in four members quit the force in the past 27 months. [28190/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: 253. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applications made under the first-home scheme by tenants with a notice to quit; and the number approved. [27828/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electricity Supply Board (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: 255. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware that electricity reconnections are causing delays in the return to use of vacant council-owned homes. [27869/24]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (2 Jul 2024)

Thomas Gould: 298. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if drones are being considered for An Garda Síochána. [27825/24]

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

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses for their presentations, which are much appreciated. I will address my questions to Ms Lawlor first. She studied at UCC. As a Corkman, that is a good starting point. In her submission she stated, "Ireland's own Garda diversion scheme provides some insight into the benefits of diverting young people away from criminal systems, with a vast majority of adolescents who...

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

Thomas Gould: My next question is for Ms Eastwood. I found her research on racial discrimination in policing particularly harrowing. I had a look at the headline figures and findings. I saw a discussion on the issue of stop and search beforehand and the awful, unconscious bias that impacts this issue. To see it laid out in numbers and statistics was stark. What are the solutions to this issue? What...

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

Thomas Gould: Yes.

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

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses again. This has been a long session and listening to the witnesses has been enlightening. I have picked up a lot from their contributions and I thank them for that. To follow on from Deputy Ward, some of the communities that we represent have been destroyed by drugs. There is a fear factor among those communities around decriminalisation or legalisation. The...

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

Thomas Gould: Following on from that, Professor Stevens said earlier that reducing penalties for drug possession does not necessarily lead to an increase in use. It is, therefore, a net positive as it reduces the harm and cost of criminalisation while not increasing the harm of drug use. Many of the points the professor has made today have been led by research. Is that right?

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

Thomas Gould: I thank Professor Stevens. In her opening statement, Ms Eastwood stated, "Many governments wrongly believe that decriminalising drug possession will lead to an increase in prevalence. This is not the case." That is following on from what Professor Stevens just said. Is that correct?

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

Thomas Gould: My final question is for Ms Lawlor. In her submission, she stated: "The impact of criminal records on children and young people is devastating, resulting in stigma and discrimination, diminished access to education and housing, reduced prospects for future employment, and negative impacts on family relationships." Reading about those impacts is shocking.