Results 1-20 of 53 for drugs speaker:Paul Donnelly

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

Paul Donnelly: I also thank Deputy Gino Kenny for bringing forward this Bill. I know I have said this before, but it needs to be said again and again that the so-called war on drugs has failed utterly to achieve its objectives and has caused untold damage to our communities. How do we know? It is because we see it on our streets and in our communities, pubs and clubs. In fact, pretty much anywhere we go...

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (25 Jan 2024)

Paul Donnelly: ..., we need to remind ourselves why we are doing this and to look at the massively important work being done by charities throughout the island of Ireland. These include those working in healthcare, drug services, homelessness, housing services, rehabilitation, recovery, and providing food and other basic needs to anyone and everyone in our communities. Many of these community and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (14 Nov 2023)

Paul Donnelly: ...important. Some have gone through some difficulties in recent years and it has damaged the reputation of charities but they do incredible work on the ground. They do everything from health to drug support, rehabilitation and housing. There is such a wide variety of work charities do and it is so important. We need to get this right. Even if it took a little longer, that would be fine....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (14 Nov 2023)

Paul Donnelly: ...who is thinking of getting involved in a board to do so because it is extremely rewarding. It is tough and hard but it is extremely rewarding. You see the effects on people. I am involved in a drugs and rehabilitation project and you see people coming through recovery. It is the best thing in the world when you see that happening.

Sustainability of Stability of Services Provided by Section 39 and Section 56 Organisations on behalf of the HSE and Tusla: Statements (12 Oct 2023)

Paul Donnelly: .... Why would people who are looking after people who are so vulnerable withdraw their labour? It is precisely because they care so deeply about the people whom they care for, including those in drug services, disability services, homelessness services and section 56 organisations, whom I have worked with previously; those who care for those in care; and the most vulnerable children in the...

An Garda Síochána: Motion [Private Members] (4 Oct 2023)

Paul Donnelly: ...Minister for two drones to tackle the scourge of scramblers in communities throughout Dublin 15 and Dublin 7. Police forces throughout Britain have established specialist police units to tackle the scourge of drug dealing and antisocial behaviour by people using scramblers. When there is another tragedy, when a young person dies on a scrambler or an innocent person, young or old, is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (26 Sep 2023)

Paul Donnelly: ...help and support and need a service, but it is operating with 40% to 50% of the staff and it cannot provide that service with less experienced staff. As somebody who is involved in a community drugs team which will be looking to recruit staff over the coming months, I find it deeply worrying that not just addiction services but services for homeless people, disability services and...

Youth Justice Strategy: Statements (21 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: ...circumstances as family welfare issues. We all know these are at the core of many young people and their engagement in criminality. The use of young people by older people and grooming into drug gangs is well known. The new focus on this and people who groom young people is very welcome. Again, it needs to be resourced. I strongly welcome the focus on a holistic wraparound service,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: 63. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on the submission to the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use by the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign, in particular on the role of community projects being funded to help deal with people with addiction, and the recognition of the need to address the link between drugs and poverty through a community development approach; and if...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I ask the Minister of State’s views on the submissions to the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use by the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign, in particular on the role of community projects being funded to help deal with people with addiction, and the recognition of the need to address the link between drugs and poverty through a community development approach; and if she will make a statement...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: There is a broad welcome for funding to Citywide and it being brought into the Department of Rural and Community Development and away from the HSE and the national drugs strategy. I have been involved in community development-based drug projects for over 25 years in Dublin 15. I am very proud of the work we have done in supporting individuals, families and communities in tackling the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I agree that it is important that every Deputy would visit his or her community drug team, particularly those which have a local management team or board. That is the essence of community development. It is the local community giving a local response and being able to effectively deal with the problem as it arises in its community. The lesson we have learned over the past 30 years since...

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

Paul Donnelly: ...adults encouraging young people and children to get involved in criminal behaviour. As someone who has worked with young people from disadvantaged communities and worked with communities tackling drug problems for more than 30 years, I have witnessed this happening over and over again. Younger people are groomed by older criminals and drug dealers, many of whom were groomed themselves....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (7 Mar 2023)

Paul Donnelly: 515. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of drugs seized under Garda Operation Pier; and the number of persons arrested and charged under this operation to date. [11207/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drugs Strategy (23 Feb 2023)

Paul Donnelly: As the Minister of State knows, I have been involved in the local drugs task force since the beginning, back in the late 1990s. The role of community representatives on the task force is critical. I know this has become a huge challenge for the community in recent years. There has also been something of a pushback from certain Departments against community involvement. Basic respect for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drugs Strategy (23 Feb 2023)

Paul Donnelly: ...of years, I have attended a number of meetings with Citywide and community representatives on the respect that people are not getting in the interaction with and implementation of the national drugs strategy. I commend the Citywide drugs crisis campaign. I know a call has gone out for participants in the provision of level 5 training for community representatives on local drugs task...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drugs Strategy (23 Feb 2023)

Paul Donnelly: Will the Ministers outline the Department's role in the implementation of the national drugs strategy?

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

Paul Donnelly: I welcome the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use. It is something that has needed to happen for many years. I commend all of those who campaigned and worked hard to get this far. I acknowledge there is no one voice on this issue. While we are speaking about a citizens' assembly I call on the Government to stop dragging its heels and establish a citizens' assembly on Irish unity as soon as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Meetings (13 Dec 2022)

Paul Donnelly: 517. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she spoke with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (details supplied) during 2022. [62185/22]

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

Paul Donnelly: ...Deputy Ó Ríordáin for bringing forward this motion. It is a huge topic. A person would need two and a half hours rather than two and a half minutes to try to address some of the issues. The drug crisis is something that I have seen in the community in which I grew up in the north-east inner city and in the community I moved to in west Dublin. In some ways, there is a...