Results 41-60 of 5,144 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I hope to by the recess.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We are here to work with the committee. We want to make sure that everyone is included. That is absolutely the way going forward. Our first draft will be ready at Christmas. We are working with the committee in collaboration-----
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We will work together.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We will just all work together like we are today-----
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We will work with the committee, with the witnesses and with the concerns that they have today. We will talk about them in the Department.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We will come back to the Senator.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am-----
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: In the meantime, we can work with the committee on what it is working and see if we can get the process quickly. We have not had a drugs strategy in ten years.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: What exactly is the Senator looking for?
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely. We are here to work together.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I compliment the task forces on the work they do. We have 24 of them throughout the country. As the Deputy stated, they do absolutely excellent and important work. There have not been any cuts in the budget. There have not been cuts to the task forces, but we are reviewing them. We are working with the HSE to look at the structure and how we work together with those 24 task forces. That...
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We will get that to the Deputy.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Of course.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Deputy for her question. It is important that we recognise the work of the groups the Deputy mentioned: FARI, CityWide and UISCE. They have done great work. That needs to be clear. We appreciate, as the Deputy said, that they have put a lot of work into this over a long time, and we really appreciate the work that they have done. It is important that we work together. I see...
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is just health diversion.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: From reading it myself, and I will go back and check it again, the citizens' assembly, in recommendation 17, said that drug possession should remain illegal and our health diversion scheme is in line with this. I will double-check. I am Minister of State with responsibility for health and well-being, so I can only look at health and well-being. That is within my remit. It is something...
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I totally agree with the Deputy. There have been challenges. She is right that we need to get it out quicker and have an awareness campaign. That will be part of the drugs strategy going forward so that we are not in a position again where something like HHC would take so long. That is factual. I totally agree with the Deputy.
- Committee on Drugs Use: National Drugs Strategy: Discussion (13 Nov 2025)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: First of all, I thank the Deputy for his work and dedication. I have had many a talk with him and know how committed he is and how hard he has worked. It is important to thank him for that. As he knows, the Department of Health supports the health hub proposal and is committed to working with the HSE to secure funding through the capital plan. That is absolutely correct. That is what we...