Results 10,661-10,680 of 11,348 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (21 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank each of the panel this morning for their constructive contributions. First, I want to ask Dr. Mills and Mr. O'Connor about the issue of where the expectant mother is under 18 years of age. The question at present is that the heads of the Bill are silent on dealing with that issue. Is it their view, when three medical persons come to a conclusion no matter what way we structure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the delegations for their contributions today. My first question is for Mr. Saunders in respect of head 4 of the Bill. I have raised this with several people already. The Medical Council and the Royal College of Psychiatrists of Ireland are suggesting that the heads of the Bill provide that three people would sign off on the issue in respect of where there is suicidal intent,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: In respect of people under 18 years, what structure would Mr. Saunders like to have put in place to deal with that issue in the proposed legislation? Mr. Saunders is right. The heads of the Bill are silent on that issue and it is an important point that he has raised. The third question is for Dr. Janice Walshe. She suggested that two people should sign off in respect of the area that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: It is important to clarify that the master of the Coombe hospital was invited before us, together with the representatives of the other hospitals, on Friday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: People from six hospitals gave evidence on Friday. There has been criticism about the lack of legislation and it is important to refer to the judgment in the X case, particularly on page 82 of the judgment, where Mr. Justice McCarthy criticised the Legislature for not putting in place laws. The eighth amendment to the Constitution "guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the psychiatrists for their contributions. I want to raise the issue of their submission about the GP and the psychiatrist taking the decision on the psychiatric issue. The heads of the Bill refer to a joint decision between two psychiatrists and an obstetrician. The Medical Council talks about the two psychiatrists taking the decision and then the consultation with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank all of the contributors this morning. The submission on the role of psychiatrists in making the decision is in line with the Medical Council’s proposed amendment under head 4, which was presented to us on Friday, namely, that the psychiatrists would sign off on the psychiatric issue and then there would be consultation with the obstetricians. Do psychiatrists feel that GPs...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (17 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank all of the witnesses for their contributions today. I want to raise an issue in relation to the submission by the Irish Medical Council this morning. The IMC is at variance with a proposal in the heads of the Bill. Its proposal is that the text in head 4(1)(b) should be amended to read: two psychiatrists, have, in accordance with this head, jointly certified in good faith that-(i)...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (17 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their detailed and constructive submissions. Professor Murphy of the Irish Medical Council spoke about a proposed amendment to head 4, an issue I mentioned this morning. He suggests two psychiatrists should sign off and then consult the obstetrician, whereas the head proposes that the three sign off. He obviously has very strong views on the matter and I know some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (17 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the delegation. I have two questions. First, section 1(b) in head 4 calls for an obstetrician and two psychiatrists. A question arises as to whether an obstetrician is competent to make a decision on a psychiatric issue. For example, the evidence of an obstetrician on a psychiatric issue would not be accepted in the High Court. Should two psychiatrists make the decision and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (17 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I am sorry; yes. I was referring to the X case, which involved a 14 year old.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Jim Higgins, MEP (16 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome Mr. Jim Higgins, MEP. In a sense it is a welcome home, given that he spent a number of years in the Seanad. He made a valuable contribution during his time in both the Dáil and the Seanad. I also thank him for his assistance during my brief period in the European Parliament. Working there with him and his staff and all of the Irish MEPs was a huge learning exercise for me....

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2013)

Colm Burke: The health committee will hold hearings in the Seanad Chamber on Friday from 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and likewise on Monday and Tuesday next week. More than 36 medical professionals will give evidence. I know that Members may be inconvenienced because the Seanad is not sitting on Tuesday but it is important for continuity that the hearings are held on successive days. Last January, the health...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I am surprised at the comments of the Leader of the Opposition this morning. He referred to the delaying of legislation. It is 21 years since the X case judgment was given. When Fianna Fáil was in power, it did absolutely nothing about it.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

Colm Burke: The Opposition should not criticise the delay in the legislation when it did nothing in 21 years.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

Colm Burke: On this issue, there have been three days of public consultations and we face another three. It will be interesting to see who will be around at 7.45 p.m. on Friday and Monday nights during the consultations. We are to have legislation in this area and will ensure it is passed by the end of this term. To suggest we are rushing legislation through is totally incorrect. I welcome the Higgins...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I raise the issue of the Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill, which I have published, and do so in regard to the recent case in County Tipperary of a person who had been missing for two years whose remains were found in a slurry tank. This highlights the situation that where a body is not found a death certificate cannot be issued and nothing can be done with a person's estate until a period of...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Motion (8 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his contribution. Others have raised the issue of domestic violence and abuse. However, there is another type of abuse, namely, the abuse of the courts system. I have witnessed this as a practising solicitor. I am familiar with a case in which there are more than 25 court orders and the case is ongoing. This problem is particularly acute in cases where...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I remind the other side that in 2003 the Hanly report clearly set out that-----

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I am simply reminding the Senator of it. I will come to the Order of Business. The report clearly set out that by 2012 there would be 3,600 consultants in the country, up from 1,700. At the moment there are 2,500, which is 1,100 short. That is the first point. The second point is that since we have come into power we have provided an additional 251,000 medical cards. By the end of 2013...