Results 9,281-9,300 of 11,654 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for dealing with this by way of a compromise and for taking on board the concerns raised by Senators. He was prepared to sit down and deal with the issues relating to segregation. I refer back to the work of Senator Buttimer and the health committee, of which I am a member and which looked at this matter comprehensively during the lifetime of the previous Oireachtas....

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: The Senator was concerned that there would be no increase in this area.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I am well aware of that. I will just finish this point.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I will stick with the section. In case it is not vodka about which Senator McDowell is concerned, gin will increase in price from €15.99 to €20.71. That is the minimum unit pricing we are talking about. The Bill is not just about one issue, it is about a number of them. There is no proposal to marginalise people who drink alcohol. The Bill is about a balanced approach to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for the presentations. On the previous occasion I had a concern, which I raised at the September meeting, about the matter being revisited. The figures being given to me are to the effect that there are approximately 148 orphan drugs, with 133 approved and used in Germany. We are using either 53 or 55 and other countries around Europe seem to be way ahead of us in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: It is my understanding that 20 people are on the Alpha-1 drug and they are now being advised that it will not get approval. What happens to those 20 people now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: The protocol is not there at the moment. As I understand it, there is no obligation on the drug company to continue providing the drug. Am I correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: The problem is that they are looking for clarity at this stage. They want to know between now and Christmas whether they are going to find out on the news or in the newspaper if they will continue to have the drug available to them the following day, week or month. They are now in that dilemma. That is the difficulty we have to deal with as public representatives because people are getting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: What happens if they discontinue a programme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: Can we get a decision on that matter because there are 20 people on the drug who now do not know what the situation will be in December?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: Yes, but the problem is that 20 people do not know where they stand at present.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: Can we take it from today that there will be some clarification furnished to them within seven to ten days so that they know where they stand?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: Can I just-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I asked about the period from March 2015 where there is a decision still not made. It was in relation to BioMarin. They did an appeal-----

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I am delighted that two Opposition Members are being positive this morning, one about the report of the ESRI and the other about the JobPath programme. The prediction that there would be an inflow into the country resulting in 1 million more people is welcome. It is due to positive economic development by the Government in the past six years. I am delighted that Senator Catherine Ardagh is...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2017: Motion (26 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister and the officials for bringing forward this legislation. I thank also all those who campaigned for the change. Sometimes change takes time but the dedication and commitment of people can bring that about. I thank the Senators, but particularly Senator Boyhan, for bringing forward amendments. A good deal of time is put into dealing with that and I thank him for his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Children's Health Bill 2017: Discussion (25 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses very much for being here this morning and their work on this project to date. I have two concerns. One is the transition period leading into when the hospital is built. Is there going to be a period of time when staff coming from a number of different locations will transfer to work for a period of time with colleagues from another facility? Is that planned for so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Children's Health Bill 2017: Discussion (25 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: Could I ask a question on salaries? If funding is made available for research, will the board have discretion in order to give a supplementary salary to an employee in that situation? Is that envisaged because of additional work taken on board by the people working within the system? Is that envisaged if the money is coming in through philanthropy or research funding rather than the State...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Children's Health Bill 2017: Discussion (25 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: That was because it was kept under the radar whereas-----

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise the issue of our policy on trying to assist the airports outside of Dublin and trying to increase traffic flow in and out of those airports, whether it be Shannon, Cork or Knock. A problem has arisen that has been brought to my attention by a number of people. I refer to the prices Aer Lingus is charging people flying out of Cork. For instance, if I were to book flights for...