Results 1-20 of 110 for drugs speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (31 Jan 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: We need the citizens' assembly on drugs to happen as soon as possible. We are looking at absolute failure. When we talk about drug use, drug addiction, the services that relate to those problems, drug criminality and drug-debt intimidation, we speak about its impact across society, which is particularly bad in working-class areas in urban settings. We need to do something different. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions: An Garda Síochána (30 Apr 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: What plans are there to deal with violence? I am talking about both organised violence, that is, drug dealing, drug-debt intimidation and the wholesale violence that communities have to deal with and disorganised violence. That can be the crime of chaotic families, vulnerable people who are sometimes, for want of a better term, useful idiots who are used by drug gangs. Such chaotic...

Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 May 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...legislation. We all know about the engagement of children in criminal activity. We can call it what we will, whether grooming or whatever else. We know this particular issue exists concerning drug crime in particular and that we have many streetwise criminals at this stage who are only too willing to circumvent the law and to use and abuse people. At this stage, we are talking about...

Coercion of a Minor (Misuse of Drugs Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Oct 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: That is alright. First, I would like to thank my colleagues. We all accept that we need something to deal with the coercion of minors and the facts of grooming by drugs gangs of very young kids. In some cases these are very vulnerable kids who are at the periphery of society. We all know that these drugs gangs do this from a point of view of protecting themselves and of having a buffer...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (22 Feb 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I am revisiting a question from yesterday. We all welcome the citizens’ assembly on drugs use. The war on drugs is dead and buried and we know we need health-led initiatives. I want to ask specifically about drug debt intimidation. It is a particular issue and we need to ensure it is front and centre in regard to the citizens’ assembly. We then need action afterwards, not...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I would like an answer in regard to the timeline for the citizens' assembly on drugs. Obviously, many in this House and beyond will accept we have a huge drug problem as it relates to addiction, to the lack of services, to criminal gangs and to drug debt intimidation and the huge impact this has on communities and families. I was shocked the other day when the Minister of State with...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (21 Feb 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: We all welcome the long-awaited citizens' assembly on drugs that is to commence in April. Many of us accept that the war on drugs is well and truly lost and see that our approach should be one of harm reduction and be health-led. We understand that our approach must also be about dealing with the substantial negative impacts on families and communities. However, I want to ensure we deal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Medical Bureau of Road Safety: Chairperson Designate (25 May 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I apologise that I was at another event earlier. I will continue on from the Cathaoirleach’s point. I think none of us is too shocked that there is an increase in the number of people who have drugs in their system when stopped at checkpoints or after accidents on the basis there is a huge increase in the number of people taking drugs. When there is a case of GAA motions going to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Jan 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I want to bring up the issue of the lack of Ozempic, which is a diabetes drug. It is also seen at times as a weight-loss drug. This could be part of the issue. I think there was an issue with production; numbers are down. People with diabetes have told me of their difficulty in getting it. It was brought to my attention by a man who has been a diabetic for 26 years. Seven years ago he...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (11 May 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Many in this House believe we should already have a citizens' assembly on drug use. We need to make sure that happens as early as possible in 2023. Anybody who has engaged with any community in Ireland knows the dangers and harm drug addiction is causing. Looking outside my constituency office on court days, I can see people who have been impacted by drug addiction. This impacts utterly...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (29 Nov 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Are we any closer to a date for a citizens' assembly on drugs? We know the issue we all have, particularly in deprived communities that are absolutely ravaged by drug gangs and drug debt intimidation. Not only should we have a citizens' assembly; I would like to think that there are also conversations going on at European level about this matter. We all accept that Ireland, whether on a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Family Support Services (1 Jun 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: The Family Addiction Support Network was probably late to the game in seeking funding. Back in 2008, the north-eastern regional drugs and alcohol task force, like every other body, had its money slashed. It then had to try to keep a skeleton of its service in play. That is what happened across the board. We all know the issues that exist at this time in regard to drug addiction and drug...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (14 Jul 2021)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: 415. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the reimbursement process for the drug zolgensma; the progress made to date to make this drug available and publicly funded for persons diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31484/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Future Treaty Change in the European Union: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: This is it. They are dealing with the issues of drug crime and organised crime and its impacts such as drug debt intimidation.

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: It is fair to say that we have at least agreement on one issue, which is that the war on drugs has been an abject failure. I recall that there was a period in Dundalk a couple of years ago when, following cuts to Garda funding, we did not have a drug squad and then the drug squad was suddenly in operation again. In fairness, no one is going to have a problem when action is taken against...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (13 May 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...to the sorry story of the British policy of internment in Ireland. We will live with the Covid-19 virus for a long time, but the viruses that many of us have been living with for far longer are drugs and organised crime. Last Saturday, I saw for myself the horrific results of this pandemic when I received a call to say that in Muirhevnamore in Dundalk, approximately 1 km from my home,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I also reiterate that we really need a date for the citizens’ assembly on drugs. We can all accept at this stage that the so-called war on drugs is well and truly lost. We know that we have communities which are completely under the cosh of criminal elements and that we do not have the addiction services that are required to deal with the need that is there. Most of my dealings with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (10 Sep 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ..., particularly where there are major connections to organised crime between Dundalk and Drogheda. We are dealing with a very dangerous quotient of criminals. I welcome the Minister's mention of drug debt intimidation. I accept that the national drug strategy does not fall under her remit but I have had this conversation with the Minister previously. We need somebody at the Cabinet who...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Oct 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: As I said in the House yesterday, we can all accept that the war on drugs has been lost. We are going to need a citizens' assembly on drugs as soon as possible. We obviously need a more novel approach because what we are doing at the minute is not working. That is not to say we do not need criminal sanction and resources to deal with dangerous criminals. Drug debt intimidation is one of...