Results 61-80 of 151 for drugs speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Oct 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...crime. When dealing with matters relating to criminal justice, I find it difficult not to end up on my hobby horse, which I would much prefer was not my hobby horse, namely, the issue of drug crime and, in particular, drug debt intimidation. The latter involves individuals and families who come under severe pressure and harassment from criminal elements to pay up what may be a debt...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes (13 Oct 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I think we all welcome the work CE scheme participants carry out. It can be everything from drug addiction services right through to many pieces of work in the community. We need to review CE with a view to strengthening it. I welcome what has been said previously. We need to look at the pension age question Deputy Stanton has raised. Beyond that, for us to make this entirely sustainable...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Oct 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: .... There is a wider issue which I have raised previously. It was raised with me by a locum working in pharmacies throughout the Louth area. I think it was in Drogheda where a lady who was on the drug payment scheme was late picking up something for a very serious illness she had. She had been taking her medication every second day to save money. She had previously been on a medical...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and Other Matters: European Movement Ireland (28 Sep 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...a piece of work to be done. I found it strange that certain issues did not come up that would pertain to communities I deal with daily. I refer to the wider issue of where the antisocial meets drug gang criminality, but there was no mention of it. I cannot believe that is not an issue right across the entirety of modern Europe. I think certain voices were missed. I am sure the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Sep 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I was talking to a locum pharmacist working in County Louth. A lady who was on the drug payments scheme came in to him. She had a medical card but previously it had been taken off her. She had a medical condition. She was late for her medication. He wanted to know why and she said that she did not have the money in her account. She was taking the medication every second day, which,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (5 Jul 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: 66. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the status of the work of her Department in tackling drug-related intimidation and reporting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35981/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement with Representatives of the European Committee of the Regions (15 Jun 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: .... If public meetings were held anywhere across Ireland, and I imagine throughout Europe, a range of issues would have come to the fore that did not come to the fore at that forum. I refer specifically to the drugs issue, drug addiction and crime. I can point to the number of times those issues are spoken about in these Houses and at local level. What item of work can be done from the...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jun 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...in the Circuit Court and higher courts. Any sort of serious criminal activity is generally handled in them. Even when gardaí have done really decent work to deal with dangerous criminals, especially drug-dealing criminals who engage in violent activity, when action is taken, there is often a battle a day about remand, whether people are going to be released, and their specific...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Strategies (26 May 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: 114. To ask the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for the establishment of strategic implementation groups regarding the national drugs strategy; if he will provide an update on the expected meeting of chairpersons of each group before the end of May 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26553/22]

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...

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: We all know that. I go to residents' committee meetings and people talk about open drug dealing and all of the rest of it. We put pressure on and move it around-----

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...give the example of the superintendent in Dundalk arriving at a community meeting we had in Muirhevnamore. He was congratulated on some of the work the Garda had carried out and it was down to the drug squad being put back into action, there not having been one for a couple of years and at that stage there were three or four members. The superintendent said it was great and that...

Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (17 May 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...never had a particularly great relationship with alcohol. Many of us may have been less than saintly over the years. Beyond that, we are aware that we are dealing with a significant issue in respect of drug abuse, especially cocaine abuse. An awful lot of people see cocaine as a recreational drug that they can take without doing any real harm. It has been brought to my attention in the...

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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Europe Day and the European Year of Youth 2022: Engagement with Comhairle na nÓg (11 May 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: In fairness, if Deputy Howlin goes through the issues I brought up, I am, on some level, a beaten docket but nobody brought up the issue of drug addiction when we talked about health. I had a meeting yesterday in the estate where I live. It was one of the first issues that people brought up with regard to drug dealing, crime and their impact. I could not see how that would not be brought...

Europe Day: Statements (10 May 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...also be shocked at some of what is not there. We dealt with proposals on health. There were some progressive proposals on people's right to universal healthcare, but there was no mention of the drug addiction issue we have throughout the European Continent. We know communities here especially are suffering. We all know everything changed because of Russia's criminal invasion of...

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Apr 2022)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...of them involve serious criminal or violent activity or gang activity. We just need to ensure we put all the required parts in play. There is also the wider question of a citizens' assembly on drugs. We are running against ourselves at this point and we need a better solution.