Results 81-100 of 11,945 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I know but I am giving an example where if there were a decision in the morning by the European Union to send in troops to Ukraine, and if there were a cessation of hostilities, the likelihood is that Russia would not allow the UN to deploy troops. Is that not the correct position? Therefore, under the triple lock system, because we would not have a UN mandate, we would not be able to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: There was a criticism of the triple lock system. I am just giving the example where we could be of assistance in keeping peace but we would be prevented from doing so by Russia.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I ask Ms Ní Bhriain to deal with the example I gave.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: No, but it was raised and the triple lock system is an issue that Ireland should not move away from.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: But-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: -----the argument I am making is that there is now a flaw in the whole UN process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: There is a flaw in the whole UN process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: We are now in the real world. All I am saying is that it is quite clear that the United Nations does not have a mandate in many areas because of the power that Russia, China and America have. That has neutralised the impact of the UN from the point of view of peacekeeping. That is the point I am making.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I will move on to what the witnesses said about what has occurred in Europe. For the past 25 or 30 years, the threat of Russia was not there. A huge change has occurred, and Europe must respond accordingly. The problem is that if we wait around, it is obvious from what America is now saying that it is not prepared to help Europe at any time in the future. AS a result, Europe needs to deal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I know, but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I was in Gaza in 2009 when Israel bombed a whole lot of areas there, killing 1,400 people, including 400 children. I visited four weeks after that bombing took place. They used the changeover period between American Presidents, from 27 December 2008 until 18 January 2009, to go in, carry out that bombing and kill innocent people. That was 15 years ago. If action was taken by the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: There is, because of the fact that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: No protection was provided to Gaza after 2009 to ensure there would be no repeat of what occurred.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: Is Ms Ní Bhriain saying-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: The problem Europe has is the conflict that has occurred in Ukraine. There is a genuine fear that it will spread to other European counties. Therefore, Europe must be careful that is not allowed to happen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: That has not worked in Gaza.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I am not in favour of arms or ammunition being purchased. That is the last thing I want to happen. The best example in respect of arms relates to the fact that 46,000 people in America died as a result of the use of guns in a 12-month time period. By comparison, we in Ireland are grateful that only five people were admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds in the same period. The more we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Key Issues Relating to the Health Service: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I thank the Department and the HSE for the work they are doing and for the services being delivered. I want to touch briefly on the issue in relation to Portiuncula University Hospital and going back to the Baker report. My understanding in relation to maternity services is that each month a safety statement is signed off on. The Baker report was in 2018 and issues were highlighted at that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Key Issues Relating to the Health Service: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: But it is a safety statement.