Results 1-20 of 50 for drugs speaker:Paul McAuliffe

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2021)

Paul McAuliffe: Earlier this week, I attended a meeting of school principals and a family resource centre about how open drug dealing is impacting the services they provide in the community. We all saw the "Prime Time" programme on open drug dealing in Ballymun. My question relates to the programme for Government. When will the citizens' assembly on drug use be brought forward and will the Tánaiste...

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

Paul McAuliffe: ...have committed to having it in 2023. That is hopeful. Along with the citizens' assembly debate, we also need to have a civic society debate. We need to ensure that organisations, such has the drugs task forces, are funded so that they can have those conversations with communities that have been impacted by drugs and with communities that have not been impacted by drugs, or believe...

Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use: Motion (21 Feb 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: ...we would not have reached this point without significant voices in all political parties and many at a community level calling for this citizens' assembly to be established. We know the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 is not working. Drug use has increased over this time and the State is allocating huge resources to try to tackle the management and implementation of this legislation. The 100...

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

Paul McAuliffe: Last week in my constituency, Ballymun, we saw the death of another man related to the illegal drugs industry. While other Deputies have spoken about addiction to gambling or alcohol, the reality is that if this gentleman had not had an addiction to illegal drugs he might likely be alive. If it is difficult to deal with the alcohol or gambling industry, try dealing with the Kinahans. ...

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: The key point is that the Deputy referred to figures for a certain period. One can be selective in picking particular periods. I agree with Deputies Tóibín and Shanahan that drugs seem to be the engine of the organised crime industry. That is because there is huge money to be made on the sale of drugs. We have seen infiltration by the drugs industry in many different...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: ...would definitely be beneficial for everyone in this House. I will start my contribution in an area I had not planned. This is to follow Deputy Boyd Barrett’s point on the issue of drugs. So much of crime and safety, my experience of it and the experience of the places I represent, and those places that I do not represent, revolve around the illegal drugs industry. It has...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (28 Feb 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I welcome the announcement today regarding the appointment of a chair of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use. I also welcome the early date of 14 April for its first meeting. While it is very unlikely a constitutional amendment will be required as a result of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use, it will make recommendations. I am conscious that we are midway through the Government's term....

Anniversary of the Introduction of the Smoking Ban: Statements (11 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: ...to the body and, in fact, we missed him this morning. I wish him well in his role, in particularly with regard to public health and considering the recommendations of the citizens' assembly on drugs, which I will come back to. It is interesting that Deputy Smith spoke about the role of the trade union movement in terms of the smoking ban. What is often forgotten is that it is not a...

Dublin City Safety Initiatives and Other Services: Statements (17 Nov 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: ...being accountable to the people of the city, millions of euro are being poured into my area. I represent Ballymun, Finglas, Glasnevin and Santry. These millions of euro are pouring in through drug task forces, youth centres and family resource centres. A great deal of money is also coming in from Tusla and the HSE. Often, however, there is little transparency concerning how decisions...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (22 Oct 2020)

Paul McAuliffe: ...do not fall between the cracks. The problem is that those initiatives are competing with people who are willing to break the law and induce young people into a life of crime. The Ballymun drugs task force and Dublin City Council will soon publish a report on the impact of open drug dealing in the Ballymun community. I hope to forward a copy to the Minister and the Minister of State and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Oct 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: ...am not sure anybody would be up for five citizens' assemblies in a row. Does the early delivery of that report give us the opportunity to establish a citizens' assembly on the legal framework for drugs? Will the Taoiseach examine that? Will he also examine if it is possible for the terms of reference to include not just the headline issues on the legal framework for drugs but also the...

The National Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 and Supporting Community Safety: Statements (6 Oct 2021)

Paul McAuliffe: ...those communities lives a scourge. Deputy Howlin's warning is important because we must be cognisant of the scale of that problem. The largest economic generator in my community is probably the drugs industry. When people in the community see it, they do not see the industry itself because it is hidden. Instead, they see the physical evidence of the people who are impacted by it. They...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I also want to mark the anniversary of Private Seán Rooney. I think all of our thoughts are with the families of peacekeepers who are separated from their loved ones this Christmas. The drugs task force co-ordinator position in Finglas and Cabra has been a funded post for many decades. A vacancy has arisen because the co-ordinator passed away. The recruitment process is under...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Apr 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: ...a kidnapping. We have had social media platforms being used by rival gangs to issue threats. We had one family home where people were intimidated so it could be turned into a headquarters for a drug cartel and retrofitted with bulletproof glass and CCTV. There are many people in my community wondering what is coming at them next due to these actions by the rival gangs. Will the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Paul McAuliffe: ...the division has the fourth lowest number of gardaí in the country. I appreciate it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner but it is a crucial matter in dealing with this report. Issues relating to open drug dealing undermine the confidence of the community in the entire system of the State. If people can see drugs being dealt openly on corners in their area and do not see An Garda...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: ...the use of this court, and I have no doubt about that, but I have to admit to her that my primary motivation for standing up to support the Bill tonight is the way it is used to tackle the illegal drugs industry. I imagine many Members in the House are motivated in supporting the Bill on that basis. We know that in tackling the illegal drugs industry, this is not the only tool that is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2020)

Paul McAuliffe: 858. To ask the Minister for Health if drug and alcohol support groups will be exempt from the ban on indoor gatherings under level 3 of restrictions as an essential service which can operate in a socially distant and safe manner [26686/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (3 Nov 2020)

Paul McAuliffe: 139. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to increase funding to local drugs and alcohol taskforces to support local projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33472/20]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Oct 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: 187. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to the drugs unit in the Ballymun sub-district for the past five years up to the latest date possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52228/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Oct 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: 189. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to the drugs unit in Finglas sub-district for the past five years up to the latest date possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52230/22]