Results 61-80 of 368 for drugs speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...of unique offenders identified per year. These incidents are recorded across a broad range of incident categories with the predominant contributions from Theft (22%), Public Order Offences (20%), Court Related/Bail Offences (20%), Drugs (9%), Traffic (9%), Burglary (5%) and Criminal Damage (4%). As these are crime incidents reported, it is important to note that not all of these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...to Covid-19, and we are now seeing Garda recruits regularly enter Templemore. An Garda Síochána runs a number of initiatives aimed at improving community safety and tackling crime. These include:Operation Tara, which tackles street-level drug dealing, focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities and prosecuting those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...by my Department, working with the Department of Health, focuses specifically on how we can support people because such a high proportion of people in our prisons have mental health problems or drug addiction problems. It is a question of how we stop that revolving door in order that when they come out they have the supports and the resources, while also acknowledging that where people...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (30 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...Total Accessing Garda Info System 6 Assault 9 Corrupt / Improper Practice 6 Criminal Damage 1 Discreditable Conduct 12 Drugs 5 DVA / Coercive Control 7 Forgery / Fraud 3 Harassment 1 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (28 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...and 15% mood disorder8% schizophrenia/primary psychotic disorder4% personality disorder and related traitsFurther, in 2021, the Probation Service also published "Informing and Supporting Change: Drug and Alcohol Misuse among People on Probation Supervision in Ireland". This report is also available on the Probation Service website. The key findings of this report note that in relation to:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (23 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...online survey and a request for submissions, ran from November 2021 until January 2022. More than 5,000 responses were received. These included responses from Alcohol Action Ireland; Ballymun Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force; The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland; The Health Service Executive Alcohol Programme; Institute of Public Health; Irish Community Action on Alcohol Network and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...prisoners with addictions in a structured, safe and professional way in line with international best practice. The Irish Prison Service continues to be committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations. It is the policy of the Irish Prison Service that, where a person committed to prison gives a history of opiate use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...of dangerous contraband into prisons include: the installation of nets over exercise yards, vigilant observation of prisoners by staff, enhanced CCTV monitoring, strict control of visits, drug-swabbing equipment similar to airport-style explosives swabbing devices, random and targeted searches and joint operations with An Garda Síochána. The Irish Prison Service continues to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...obtrusion of dangerous contraband into prisons include: the installation of nets over exercise yards, vigilant observation of prisoners by staff, enhanced CCTV monitoring, strict control of visits, drug-swabbing equipment similar to airport-style explosives swabbing devices, random and targeted searches and joint operations with An Garda Síochána. As part of this all visitors...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Addiction Treatment Services (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...people with addictions on a structured, safe and professional basis in line with international best practice. The Irish Prison Service continues to be committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations. The recommendations of the Citizens Assembly on Drugs have been of specific interest to the Irish Prison Service,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...the allocation of resources (including newly attested Probationer Gardaí, personnel being allocated to specialist units, e.g. Roads Policing, Community Policing, Divisional Protective Services Units, Divisional Drug Units, etc.) and in facilitating transfers of personnel to/from any Division, account is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...in the development of a health-led approach that An Garda Síochána would apply. We are waiting for legal advice about a number of elements of that. Essentially, when people are caught with drugs for personal use, the case would be approached in a different way, but at the same time we need to ensure-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...available in every area in every county, but we need more gardaí to ensure those teams are populated. That brings me back to my number one priority, which is to ensure we have as many members as possible. On the drugs issue, I agree it is everywhere. There are a number of ways in which we collectively and An Garda Síochána can respond to it. It is not only about...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences against the Person (Amendment) (Spiking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...and I launched an awareness campaign to combat spiking in collaboration with the Union of Students in Ireland. This included information on how to tell if a drink had been spiked, acknowledging that most drugs used in this manner are tasteless, colourless and odourless while highlighting the possible signs in a person's behaviour or body language and the steps to take if it is suspected...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) which includes the recording of information on, and the maintenance of, the PULSE system. Data on drugs generally is provided in PULSE incidents recorded by An Garda Síochána. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below indicates the number of charges created...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...the allocation of Garda members to a given area or specialist unit. As Minister I have no role in this matter. I understand that the Deputy is referring to the number of Garda members assigned to the drugs units in each Garda Division. The below table, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of members assigned in each drugs unit from 2019 to 2022, and, as of 30...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (18 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, Government policy in the area of drugs is focused on reducing the harms for individuals, communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. This policy is guided by the national drugs and alcohol strategy, which represents a whole-of-Government response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland. Implementation of the strategy is led by my colleagues the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...trends, to ensure their optimum use. I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as of the 31 August 2023, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 11 Garda members attached to the Kildare Divisional Drugs Unit, comprising of 2 Sergeants and 9 Gardaí. This represents an increase of over 57% since the end of December 2015 when there were 7 members assigned to the unit.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...people with addictions on a structured, safe and professional basis in line with international best practice. The Irish Prison Service continues to be committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations. It is estimated that approximately 70% of prisoners who are committed to custody have difficulties associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: ...399 together. I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that An Garda Síochána is unable to provide a breakdown of seizures in the form requested by the Deputy. Confirmation of drugs seized are subject to analysis and verification by Forensic Science Ireland, prior to publication in the Garda Annual Report. The Deputy should note that these figures do not...