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News Archive 2005
2004 Annual Review Launched
Govt. urged to provide more detox and drug free treatment places
16th September 2005
PRESS RELEASE
Merchants Quay Ireland Annual Report Launched by Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Catherine Byrne on Friday, September 16th at 4.30pm
The Merchants Quay Ireland Annual Report for 2004, released today shows that the numbers of homeless people and drug users seeking help has continued to rise. The organisation reports a 9% rise in visits to its needle exchange service and a 20% rise in visits to its open access homeless services. Increases in the numbers coming forward for help have placed even greater pressure on the already inadequate number of detoxification and drug free treatment beds. There is also growing concern about the limited move on options available to drug users and people who are homeless.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Tony Geoghegan, the Director of Merchants Quay Ireland said "I think that the increasing numbers of people coming for help to our open door services reflects a lack of options and opportunities out there for homeless people and drug users. There are now more than 7,500 people on methadone in the State. This is a positive development however methadone is only one of a wide spectrum of options that should be available to those tackling their drug use. It is deplorable that there are less then 30 detoxification beds and only 150 residential drug free beds to treat approximately 14,500 problem opiate users. Here at Merchants Quay we will be prioritising this issue and we plan to expand our residential treatment services in Dublin and Leinster over the coming years".
The Mid Term Review of the National Drug Strategy states that provision of detoxification in Ireland should be in line with international benchmarks and that increases in detoxification places should be made in conjunction with increases in overall rehabilitation services.
"What we are asking" continued Geoghegan "is simply that the Government put new resources into detoxification and drug free treatment options as a matter of great urgency to bring us into line with international best practice. Our experience is that where resources have been invested and where services have been established, people's lives have been transformed".
Event Details
Merchants Quay Irelands Annual Report 2004 to be Launched by Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Catherine Byrne
Date: 16th of September 2005
Time: 4.30pm
Venue: Merchants Quay Ireland, 4 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8
Drug Strategy Review
Increased Urgency and Increased Funding Key to Success
2nd June 2005
Merchants Quay Ireland welcomes the publication of the Mid Term Review of the National Drug Strategy. This Review has many positive aspects including the commitments to expand harm reduction services especially needle exchanges, to explore preventative strategies in relation to drugs overdose and to tackle the high levels of risk behaviour among the drug using population in Ireland. It is now vital that the government implements these recommendations with renewed vigour and that they provide additional money to fund the proposed expansion of services.
Merchants Quay Ireland also welcomes the idea of establishing ‘Rehabilitation’ as a fifth pillar of the strategy. Speaking in advance of the launch Tony Geoghegan, Director of Merchants Quay Ireland said “establishing rehabilitation as the fifth pillar of the strategy recognises the importance of rehabilitation in supporting drug users to become and remain drug free and to reintegrate into society. Procedural changes to allow Voluntary and Community organisations to employ their own medical staff directly would be beneficial in improving treatment access and options. However we are disappointed that both of these straight-forward developments must now return for further discussion to various talking shops before they are actually implemented”.
Merchants Quay Ireland sees the commitment to explore a range of approaches in relation to reducing drug related harm as very positive and we hope that this would include further developments in the near future including the establishment of Safer Injecting Rooms and the availability of a wider range of substitution treatment options.
Summing up, Mr. Geoghegan went on to say “The Drugs Crisis has not gone away and the problem continues to devastate individuals, families and the wider community. This review of the National Drugs Strategy shows the way forward. The recommendations of the review must be prioritised with renewed urgency. Most importantly of all, if the Government does not provide the resources necessary to fund the implementation of these recommendations, the strategy will fail with terrible consequences for vulnerable communities”.
An Artwork for an Imperfect World
Press Release
18th February 2005
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Artwork for an Imperfect World |
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Temple Bar Gallery and Studios presents 'An Artwork for an Imperfect World' for 12 consecutive days from late February to early March.
This project which is the brainchild of artist Mick O’Kelly aims to highlight the issue of homelessness using art as a medium to raise awareness and also to provide a service to homeless people during the time the artwork is displayed in Temple Bar Gallery.
For the duration of the project, Feb 21 - March 4, a food van will be situated in the space of Temple Bar Gallery. While the gallery will maintain its regular opening hours (11am to 6pm Tuesday - Saturday) for the period of the exhibition, each evening from 7pm - 9pm it will reopen and hot food will be served from the van to people who are homeless. In addition to serving food, shelter, support and advice will also be provided for those who wish to avail of the service. The project will culminate with the donation of the van to Merchants Quay Ireland for the development of project addressing the needs of homeless people.
‘We welcome this innovative opportunity to open up the discussion and debate about homelessness amongst a wider audience’ said Tony Geoghegan, Director, Merchants Quay Ireland ‘The project also provides us with a unique opportunity to demonstrate the need for evening services for people who are homeless, currently a significant gap, leaving some of those who are homeless with no option but to wander the streets once day services have closed regardless of their situation or the season’.
This project is the fruit of a unique partnership between Merchants Quay Ireland, Temple Bar Galleries and Studios, Mick O’Kelly, the City Arts Centre and The Arts Council and a lengthy planning process which began in 2002. To ensure active participation in the project and to endeavour to provide discretion and sensitivity a series of roundtable discussions with organisations and individuals engaged with the issues were organised ahead of the project. There was also ongoing consultation with users of homeless services.
‘Merchants Quay Ireland has a long tradition of using art as a medium to engage with both people who are homeless and drug users. Many of our services run art programmes and in the past we have held art exhibitions showcasing work from across all of our services at MQI so it is wonderful to be involved with a project of this nature’ concluded Geoghegan.
Exhibition Details
An Artwork for an Imperfect World
Dates: Mon Feb 21 – Fri March 4th 2005
Times: 11am – 6pm (Tue-Sat)
Venue: Temple Bar Galleries and Studio, 5-9 Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Asia Tsunami Disaster Appeal Allstars Charity Match
11th January 2005
PRESS RELEASE
Following the St Stephen's Day Tsumani disaster in Asia, St Patrick's Athletic have joined forces with Merchants Quay Ireland's staff and clients to organise an Allstars Charity Match at Richmond Park with all proceeds going to GOAL. A selection of staff, clients and League of Ireland players will take on a GOAL Selection on Sunday 16 th January kick-off 2pm.
The match will see current and former Saints players participating, in addition to several guest appearances, including members of the cast of popular Irish soap Fair City. Councillor Michael Conaghan, Lord Mayor of Dublin will be at the match showing his support for this fundraising initiative.
Tony Geoghegan, Director of Merchants Quay Ireland stated -
"The scale of the disaster in Asia really shocked everyone. All the Staff and service users in our Drugs and Homeless Services wanted to respond and do something positive to help. Drug users and homeless people are often perceived very negatively and I think it's fantastic that despite their own life issues and problems they want to reach out and help others less fortunate at this terrible time."
Similarly, St Patrick's Athletic are keen to help the victims of the catastrophe in any way they can, as the club's Commercial Manager, Philip Nolan, explained:
"The events of December 26th have affected people throughout the world, as well as our own community and it is only right that we help wherever possible. Ourselves, Merchants Quay Ireland and GOAL all felt that we could work better collectively than individually in this instance and know that the public will support this event.
"The match itself will see a few interesting faces at Richmond and should be an afternoon of good entertainment. More importantly though, our first match here in 2005 will raise vital funds which are so desperately needed by those in Asia affected by the Tsunami."
St Patrick's Athletic's Official Kit Supplier, Umbro, have also shown their dedication to the venture, designing and donating two unique kits for the participating teams.
Tickets for the match are priced at €10 Adults and €25 Family Tickets (two Adults plus two children) and all proceeds will go to GOAL's Tsunami Appeal.
For more information, please call the club on (01) 454-6332.
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