Results 101-120 of 616 for drugs speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (29 Mar 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 586. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the revised updated bail laws are being utilised in the battle against criminal gangs involved in drug trafficking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16703/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (29 Mar 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 589. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which those involved in drug-related crime continue to be pursued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16707/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Mar 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Is vaping a gateway drug? Is it a gateway with regard to cigarette smoking, tobacco smoking and nicotine?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Mar 2022)

Bernard Durkan: It appears that vaping is regarded as a gateway drug; the Institute of Public Health regards it as such. To what extent is there evidence to show that it is a gateway drug and that users of vaping have moved on to cigarettes?

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I support the points made by my colleague in regard to the drugs issue. It is a health issue and a justice issue. It has to be approached on two levels and to have all resources made available to deal with it. That needs to be done as a matter of urgency. What we are doing at present is perpetuating it. The drug issue is growing. We are a drug-ridden society, and people will tell you it...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I do not take issue with the Minister. However, we are telling ourselves this to reassure ourselves. We can solve it without the two. We have to put the drug suppliers out of business. We can choose. We can continue, as it were, a programme of appeasement. I was on a drugs programme previously many years ago and we came to the conclusion that methadone treatment was excellent as long as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 271. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of organised criminal and drug gangs currently on bail; the length of time they have been on bail; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9019/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (17 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 268. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the degree to which An Garda Síochána is increasing its pressure on drug gangs with a view to reducing the extent to which such gangs continue their activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9016/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (17 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 269. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which efforts continue at pace to put drug gangs off the streets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9017/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (17 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 270. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which individuals or gangs involved in the propagation of illegal drugs continue to be pursued vigorously with a view to closing down their operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9018/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: ...To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which An Garda Síochána can rely on the availability of the most up-to-date technology to assist them in their pursuit of drug gangs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9020/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (17 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 273. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of criminal gang members involved in the sale of illegal drugs or encouragement in the use of various illegal drugs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9022/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (17 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 274. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons involved in drug trafficking who have been jailed in each of the past three years to date; the number of such persons likely to be released from prison either through early release or having served their sentences in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9023/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Dealing (17 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 278. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which serious drug abuse exists, by county and by location; the plans in hand to deal with the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9021/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: ...habit of smoking, we have a problem. If it is a way to encourage children and young teenagers to smoke, that is a problem. I have a problem with the flavours. I have been associated with anti-drug task forces and so on over a number of years. One of the things the illegal drug industry does is encourage young children to take up drugs by selling them drug-laced sweets. That is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Feb 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Is there any evidence for them being a gateway to other drugs?

Youth Mental Health: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Bernard Durkan: ...be put there as a matter of considerable urgency. It is fine for people to say there are other pressing issues. There are, but these are equally pressing issues. Young people are being beset by drug barons. This has been referred to by other speakers and the Minister of State. The drug barons are ever-present, pushing their wares, ensuring they have a market for their product and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister and his colleagues for coming before the committee. I am finding the conversation interesting. I was a member, in a previous incarnation, of a ministerial drugs task force and liaised with the community-based committees. I should say at the outset that I listened to the conversation there on the need for the legalisation of cannabis and I do not accept it at all....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Bernard Durkan: ...we must improve the situation and reduce the level of dependency. How can we do that? Are we doing the right thing now? I, like everyone else, want to try to do the right thing to deal with the drug and alcoholism problem, but what do the Minister of State and the officials suggest is the best way forward at this stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Before that, I will give an idea of where I am coming from. There is nothing as soul-destroying as when one is dealing with families where there is a drug problem that grows and grows and eventually tears the family apart. The Minister of State spoke of stigma. The stigma is as a result of continued reliance on particular drugs. We need to address that. The whole concept of methadone is...