Results 10,941-10,960 of 11,348 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: World Prematurity Day 2012: Discussion with Irish Premature Babies Organisation (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and for the tremendous work they have done over the last few years. Given that the birth rate has increased from 54,000 to 75,000 per annum without a significant increase in staff levels, we have achieved great success in reducing the perinatal mortality rate. I understand smaller units are experiencing problems in regard to availability of...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: Following on from the previous speaker, the death of Savita is a very tragic situation but there must be some compromise in establishing the inquiry to find out what went wrong. The present debate will not bring about the necessary investigation. In fairness to everyone, there must be compromise by all involved to ensure we establish a proper inquiry team. The chairman appointed has a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres (20 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: This matter relates to the primary care centre in Knocknaheeny. My understanding is that the centre has been completed for more than four years but is not occupied. According to the agenda of Cork City Council, it agreed to transfer the land with the primary care centre on it. I am not sure why it has taken four years for that transfer to take place. A primary care centre is needed in the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres (20 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I am surprised by this response. I have no information about when it is proposed to build the primary care unit on the St. Mary's campus and I am not aware of the submission of plans. I will table another Adjournment matter to deal with that issue because the centre to which I refer was completed more than four years ago. The Minister of State said the matter goes back to 2004. It is now...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Forthcoming Health Council: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: Each member state has 30 months in which to put in place legislation relating to the cross-border health care directive, which as passed in November 2011. Would it be possible to co-ordinate matters in order that such legislation would be passed in all 27 member states by the end of our Presidency?

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I agree with the remarks of Senator Crown on the composition of the inquiry set up to investigate the Galway tragedy. All the people appointed are credible but we now have a problem that must be dealt with and it cannot be allowed to run on and on. It is important for everyone, including the family concerned, all the medical staff in Galway, the consultants and nursing staff, that there is...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: In fairness to everyone involved there should be some compromise by everyone. There is no way something can be delivered that will satisfy all parties. Anyway, this must be examined at the earliest possible date and I call on the Leader to convey this to the Minister for Health. I realise it is not possible for the Minister to come to the House today but it should be dealt with at the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I agree with Senator Ó Murchú on both issues. I ask people to be careful when speaking on the tragic issue in Galway. In regard to maternity services, the number of deliveries has increased from 54,000 to 74,000 per annum. Ireland has the lowest perinatal mortality rate and the lowest maternal mortality rate in Europe. In fairness to doctors and nurses, everyone is on tenterhooks with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Prohibition of Smoking on Leinster House Campus: Motion (15 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: If we want to set a target date for this we must allow a reasonable period for it to be dealt with. It will not be dealt with in three months or even six months. The earliest period is 12 months, although that is a personal view. The Senator should not set a target date which cannot be implemented.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Prohibition of Smoking on Leinster House Campus: Motion (15 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I agree in principle with what Senator Crown has proposed but, like other speakers, I believe there must be consultation. It might not be a bad idea to set a target date - be it six months or 12 months - whatever happens in the long term, but every possible assistance must be given to those staff and Members who smoke to assist them in moving away from having to smoke every day. That would...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: With regard to rare diseases, I attended a briefing earlier by the medical research charities on the importance of research. We had a Private Members' debate on rare diseases and a national plan is to be put in place by the end of 2013. This is to be replicated throughout the European Union. It would be great if Ireland led by being the first to publish its national plan and to have an...

Seanad: National Children's Hospital: Statements (13 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for making a decision on the matter. It is welcome. The McKinsey report dates back to 2006. At present three hospitals in Dublin provide child care. It is important that we make the necessary changes because children require specialist treatment. In 2006 the report accepted that one children's hospital would look after children from the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the result of the referendum. I thank the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs for introducing it after 20 years of debate and a number of reports, including by the Oireachtas. I also pay tribute to Senator van Turnhout. She has been involved in the area for a long number of years and has made a great contribution to moving the campaign forward. I also thank every Member for...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: Let us remember that the High Court approved the Government's decision on the challenge made. The High Court favoured the Government in that decision but the Supreme Court made a different decision.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: If the Senator does not want to hear the truth, then that is fine.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: My question relates to future referenda. Under the Constitution there is a mechanism that when a Bill is passed by the Oireachtas, the President has a right to refer it to the Supreme Court to be tested. The last time that happened was for the nursing homes Bill. I want to make a similar proposal for future referenda. Before a referendum is held I want the Government to refer...

Seanad: Youth Unemployment and Public Policy: Address by Professor Christopher Pissarides (Resumed) (8 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank Professor Pissarides for taking the time to be with us today. There are two categories of young unemployed person. We have highly qualified young people who feel frustrated because there are no jobs, but there is also a set of young people who have grown up in the tradition of unemployment. I was involved in a project that helped young people who had dropped out of school. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Community and Voluntary Groups (8 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the Chair and apologise for missing the presentations, although I have read them and found them very comprehensive. I know we are facing into very difficult times financially, but I wish to move away slightly from that issue. The Chairman and I attended a meeting with a voluntary organisation recently to discuss the upcoming budget. Approximately 85% of the budget of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I support the call for people to come out in large numbers on Saturday to vote "Yes" in the referendum. It is responsible to make such a call. I have seen a number of e-mails and Twitter messages calling on people to vote "No" in order to settle scores with the Government on other issues. It is irresponsible of people to look for a "No" vote for reasons which are not in any way connected...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Community and Voluntary Groups (8 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank all the organisations for coming before us and giving a very comprehensive submission. I am concerned about the way the adjustments were made to home care packages in the past few months. One of the problems arising is that because people doing home help or care are not permanent and pensionable, it is an easy element to cut. I raise the idea of getting the Department to ring-fence...