Results 9,181-9,200 of 11,322 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters Relative to Disability Service in the South East and Related Matters): Motion (9 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: I move:That Seanad Éireann: bearing in mind the specific matters considered by Government to be of significant public concern arising from the case of Grace (pseudonym), who resided in a former foster home in the South East which is the subject of abuse allegations, as detailed in the following reports:(a) Report of Conal Devine & Associates – Inquiry into Protected...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters Relative to Disability Service in the South East and Related Matters): Motion (9 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for bringing this matter before us today. It is interesting how we have allowed systems to be put in place without proper procedures for making sure that the levels of care and supervision for those in care were sufficient. It is sad that we now have to set up a commission of investigation into a matter that was dragging on over such a long period of time. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implcations for Health Sector of United Kingdom's Withdrawal from the EU: Discussion (8 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: I will be brief because many of the issues I wished to raise have been dealt with already. I wish to return to the figures for inpatient cases. As I understand it, of the 237 cases, 213 were treated in Northern Ireland, which means 24 were treated in the UK.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implcations for Health Sector of United Kingdom's Withdrawal from the EU: Discussion (8 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: Yes. The figure of 24 seems very low to me. Is it the case that not every individual is counted under the cross-border health care heading? For example, is there an arrangement where someone in a hospital in Dublin goes straight to the UK because it is an urgent matter? I have dealt with a number of cross-border health applications. Could it be the case that figures are missing that have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implcations for Health Sector of United Kingdom's Withdrawal from the EU: Discussion (8 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: On the issue of people going abroad for medical treatment, my understanding, and I cross-checked this before asking the question, is that if someone is a VHI patient they can go to the UK and get treatment if the treatment is not available here. Is there a need to contact our insurers to see if they have given cover for treatments abroad where the treatment abroad fund would not have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implcations for Health Sector of United Kingdom's Withdrawal from the EU: Discussion (8 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: I am saying that because of sub-specialisation there is a reliance by Ireland on the UK for particular treatments, and that would include private patients.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implcations for Health Sector of United Kingdom's Withdrawal from the EU: Discussion (8 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: That is because of the reciprocal arrangement at the moment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implcations for Health Sector of United Kingdom's Withdrawal from the EU: Discussion (8 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: Would that reciprocal arrangement stay in place post Brexit?

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: I offer my sympathy to the families of those who tragically died in last night's fire. I do not say the accommodation was at fault, but it raises queries about the condition of rented accommodation throughout the country. Shortcuts are being taken because it is a landlord's market. I recently spoke to a young person who had visited an apartment she wanted to rent only to find that the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Employment Service (7 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for taking the time to deal with this matter, which concerns the local employment service. My understanding is that over 300 people are employed in the service. Their role was to assist people to find employment but the one good complaint now is that the number of people who are back at work has increased dramatically. Unemployment has come down from 15.1% to 6.6% and,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Employment Service (7 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for a very comprehensive reply. I note that he is now talking about a lower caseload per person employed in the local employment service. That is welcome. I hope we will continue to get a reduction in unemployment and that by early this year the rate of unemployment will be down to 6%. Again, I thank the Minister of State for his response which the people...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: A theme coming through this debate is the lack of checks and balances. There has been a lot of media coverage on the use of cannabis for medical treatment. It is interesting that the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, is being blamed by all for delays on this matter. The Minister had a licence issued in regard to one family in west Cork for the use of cannabis for a young child....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cannabis for Medical Use: Discussion (7 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and for all the work they have done on this over a very short period. The witnesses will agree that a parent will do everything possible to get the best possible care for his or her child. I refer to a situation where all available medicines have been used but have proved unsuccessful. The parent then feels the only option is to use a...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: The good news is that figures from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, show that there are 44,000 fewer unemployed people than this time last year, which is a major improvement. Now that we have got over the major unemployment difficulty, we need to start planning for the long term. Part of that planning should involve infrastructure development. We have not had a major debate on that...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: On hospital overcrowding and the delay where elective surgeries are cancelled because of beds being occupied, it is welcome that the number waiting to be discharged has fallen below 500. It is still too high at around 436. I received a note this morning from Nursing Homes Ireland stating that 834 beds are vacant in 210 nursing homes nationwide. There is a proposal from the Minister to...

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Second Stage (1 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for bringing forward such comprehensive legislation. I wish to talk briefly about my own experience of work in the legal profession. While I have not specialised in family law, I have been involved in it. In dealing with any family law matter, a careful balance has to be met. It is not a very nice situation to be in. This occurred to me when I was acting for someone...

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Second Stage (1 Mar 2017)

Colm Burke: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2017)

Colm Burke: I join colleagues in extending my sympathies on the death of Peter Mathews to his wife Susan and to his family. Peter was a person who held strong views but he was always prepared to listen to the views of others as well. He made a substantial contribution to the debate on economic development. As my colleague, Senator O'Donnell, noted, he was someone who flagged the cards far earlier than...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (23 Feb 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. A large percentage of the primary school building in Carrignavar comprises prefabs - I understand over 70% of the students are accommodated in prefabs, a situation which has continued for some years. A number of issues arose over the past ten years regarding a new school building for the village. Over 350 students attend the school, a number...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (23 Feb 2017)

Colm Burke: My understanding is the tender process has changed in the sense that the subcontractor, as well as the main contractor, must now provide all necessary documents. As the new process is slowing up projects by a few months, can the Department expedite them? Can it assist boards of management in progressing projects at a faster pace?