Results 1-20 of 28 for drugs speaker:Michael Collins

Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: The proposed Bill seeks to modify the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, allowing adults legally to possess a specified amount of cannabis or cannabis resin for personal use. This initiative to amend the law commenced over a year ago and there are no legal obstacles to the amendment. In Ireland, drug use has been on the rise since data collection began nearly two decades ago. Cannabis use...

Driving Test Waiting Times: Motion [Private Members] (18 Oct 2023)

Michael Collins: ...can produce a licence in the coming weeks. He has not even received an invitation to a test. The father of a third young man, who has been trying to get a test since August, contacted me. He was delighted his son was so enthusiastic about getting on the road. He does not drink or do drugs, and he is still awaiting an invitation for a driving test. The list goes on and on. Every day...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Mar 2023)

Michael Collins: ...the child to be seen. There are a lot of problems in our hospitals. I raised an issue with the Government last week. The Government has given two dates, 13 and 19 March, on which the Rivotril drug was due to be back in stock in pharmacies nationwide. Those dates have come and gone and there is still no sign of this essential drug, which is vital for thousands of patients who suffer...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Mar 2023)

Michael Collins: ...’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions. As yet, this team has not been put in place. There is a related issue in that there have been supply issues in respect of the drug Rivotril in the past year. This has caused great anxiety, especially among patients with neurological disorders. Is the Tánaiste in a position to assure me that there will be a...

Drugs Policy: Motion [Private Members] (30 Nov 2022)

Michael Collins: I am glad to get opportunity to speak on this motion on drugs policy and the decriminalisation of the user. I have heard different speakers talking about people taking drugs, the number of deaths there have been and the fact that they feel that if taking drugs was legalised, this would not happen. It is hard to figure that one out in my mind. I was in the centre of Dublin city recently....

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on these matters, particularly the misuse of drugs and alcohol. Many people are struggling during this blooming pandemic. Young people in particular are struggling. It has never been more important to make sure that treatment centres are open and are kept going. It is sad to note that in the short lifetime of this Government, the Cara Lodge...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (11 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: ...the over 70s. This cohort of 480,000 people will now receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will not be given to those aged over 70 in Ireland in spite of the EU drugs regulator approving the AstraZeneca vaccine for all age groups. It seems that the elderly in this country are getting the worst deal in the context of Covid-19. They were left to die in...

Covid-19: Motion [Private Members] (10 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: ...are not sure if they will be able to reopen or what the circumstance will be going forward. The mental health implications of lockdowns are severe. They are impacting on suicide rates and causing drug and alcohol abuse, which needlessly cause lives to be lost. The isolation and lack of social isolation does not stop the spread of the disease but it does destroy the economy. My...

Mental Health Policy: Motion [Private Members] (9 Dec 2020)

Michael Collins: ...service like that, which was dealing with young people with stress and mental health issues and which was open for many years, was closed at such a vital time. Young people with issues relating to drugs misuse also availed of the services provided at Cara Lodge. It was stated that the opportunity was being taken to look at a different service. Cara Lodge could certainly have provided by...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response Final Report: Motion (19 Nov 2020)

Michael Collins: ...in the Chamber to hear what I am saying about this. I spoke recently to Vera Twomey, who has been a great activist on this issue on behalf of her daughter, Ava. There is talk now of access to the drug being suspended. I ask the Minister of State to look into this issue. There are a number of families who are affected by it. In fairness to the Taoiseach, he has put a lot of effort into...

Scrambler Motorbikes and Quad Bikes: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2020)

Michael Collins: ...award aimed at encouraging young people to do right in their communities. Unfortunately, some go wrong and end up in unlawful situations with scramblers and quad bikes, which sometimes leads to drugs and so forth. There are facilities for them. However, such a facility in west Cork, Cara Lodge in Enniskeane, was closed recently. It was a treatment centre for young people who needed...

Public Health, Well-being and National Drugs Strategy: Statements (10 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: ...in was critical of the time we spent discussing the issue. Another Deputy from his party discussed the issue here yesterday and spent time praising public houses. Deputy Ó Ríordáin can certainly put forward Bills against drug use if he wants to and if he is strong enough within his own party - maybe he is not - to do so. He should not, however, criticise others who have...

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Dec 2019)

Michael Collins: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill, which proposes to criminalise the purchase of a controlled drug from a child and criminalise the act of causing a child to be in possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply, and to provide for related matters. As we are well aware, the misuse of illicit drugs has reached a level in this country we have not seen before. It is...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Michael Collins: The Minister said that GPs would hold stocks of all abortion drugs so that women would not need to go to a local pharmacy to have their prescriptions filled and therefore pharmacists do not need to be included in the conscientious objection provisions. Do we know that this will be the case? Where does the legislation make this clear? Can the Minister guarantee that no local pharmacist will...

Mental Health (Renewal Orders) Bill 2018: Second Stage (2 Oct 2018)

Michael Collins: ...year on year. There is no one in the country who does not have somebody in their lives who has had a mental health problem at some stage, whether it be depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol or drug issues, and it is a joke to think that approximately 6% of the overall health budget is spent on mental health services each year. Mental health has been neglected and we need to address...

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jun 2018)

Michael Collins: ...mountains in the country, to highlight the efforts she is making to get medicinal cannabis for her child. Medicinal cannabis must be rescheduled in Ireland. As it stands, it is classified as a drug with no medicinal properties. Until this situation changes, consultants will have grave difficulties in prescribing the necessary treatment. The Government in the UK has seen the error of...

Mental Health Parity Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 May 2018)

Michael Collins: ...a probable mental health problem at any one time. Everyone has somebody in his or her life who has an issue with mental health, whether it be depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol issues and-or drug issues. Approximately 6% of the overall health budget is spent on mental health each year, which is totally inadequate and needs to be changed. The Government needs to fully realise its...

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: The programme for Government stated that the Government will drive down the cost of providing new treatment drugs either through national or European initiatives. One of these treatments is Respreeza. It is a therapy which has been proved to slow down the progression of genetic emphysema in patients with severe Alpha-1. Two of the 21 people taking part in a clinical trial of Respreeza died...

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: ...and Skibbereen do not have a single youth worker, or any youth service of any description. That is a huge loss to the youth of those towns at a time when we are living with the scourge of drugs and social isolation. There is an urgent need for the establishment of a Carbery youth service to serve the ever-growing youth population of west Cork. Will the Government support the setting up...

Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: ...months, the Government has been attacking the drinks trade in any way it can, which will lead to tens of thousands of job losses across the country. Why does the House not spend time talking about drugs and the prevention of their importation? The issue of drugs has not been raised in the House. Why are we afraid to mention it? It is a far more serious issue than alcohol in this...