Results 4,341-4,360 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (20 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: 212. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current position in awarding a contract for the Blackpool flood relief scheme; if he will outline the likely date when the contract will be awarded; when work is due to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52520/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: 243. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will confirm that in the new Defence Forces structure that emerges as a result of the recommendations set out in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces that Collins Barracks, Cork will be the location of the headquarters of the military formation that will control military operations in the southern region; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: 249. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a 22-seater bus will be commissioned to accommodate students (details supplied) given that an additional 18-seater bus has been put in place however four students are still without a seat for this route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52525/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Budget 2023 (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: 298. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will confirm the way the €60 million announced in Budget 2023 to support community and voluntary organisations with energy costs will be allocated; the framework for assistance under same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52396/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank our guests for the presentations this morning. I want to address the safe access zones and the legal definition. Would the Department not agree that there could be a scenario in prosecutions where ten different judges could each come to a different conclusion? Is the Department satisfied that the legal definition is adequately set out so that decisive action can be taken against a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Will the legislation cover, for example, a scenario whereby someone decides to park a vehicle with all sorts of messages on it but the person responsible is not present in the vehicle?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Is the Department satisfied that the legislation would cover that scenario even if the person is not there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: One of the groups that made a submission stated that due to its broad scope and the extent to which it infringes the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly, in its view the Bill is a violation of Bunreacht na hÉireann and the European Convention on Human Rights, which both provide clear protections for those rights. The view of the group is that the Bill will most likely not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Yes, it is one I received. I am not sure whether it came in to the committee. This is what people are saying. I am asking if the witnesses are satisfied that all the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted in terms of dealing with this? I am concerned in particular about someone saying that it will be challenged before the Irish courts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I fully support the Bill, because it is extremely important that people are not in any way intimidated or confronted when they are attending any service, no matter what it is. I am fully in support of the Bill and I want to make sure that we are not exposed to any challenge on it. That is the reason I raise this matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: The other issue that I want to raise relates to the homes of medical practitioners and staff working in medical facilities. Are we satisfied that we have done enough? If we bring forward legislation which clearly prevents anyone from protesting or in any way intimidating anyone attending such a facility, the next available option is to go to the homes of medical practitioners but also staff...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: On this issue, the Irish Medical Organisation made a submission to us in which it referred to the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act. It defines harassment in the context of causing alarm, distress or harm. The IMO stated that the current Bill does not incorporate that definition and it is a bit concerned and seeks that the matter would be examined.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: So the concerns raised by the IMO may be taken on board in dealing with this piece of legislation as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I suppose the reason the IMO is concerned is that over a seven-year period there were more than 733 recorded assaults on medical practitioners, which is approximately 100 a year. That is extremely serious and it does not take into account the number of nursing staff and care assistants who have been assaulted in hospital services. The IMO is making sure that it is not just what is in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Is Ms Mason satisfied that we will have enough safeguards and protections in place to prevent the intimidation of staff and to make sure that they are safe in doing their job and going to and coming home from work?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I have covered all of the issues that I wanted to raise. In terms of the timescale of the Bill, do the witnesses think we can get it through by December? What timescale does the Department envisage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Let us say that we will come back very shortly with our report. What kind of time period will there be before the Department comes to a conclusion on what should be included or excluded? What kind of timeframe is the Department talking about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: 97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the process for contribution fee refunds in 2022; when students can expect a refund of their contribution fee in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51686/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: There was a welcome announcement on the refund of €1,000 to students. I want to ascertain when the process for the repayment of this €1,000 will commence? Will it occur over the next eight to ten weeks? The other issue is we saw the refund of moneys to people in the health sector delayed for quite a period. Is the structure established to make sure this can be dealt with in...