Results 11,201-11,220 of 11,348 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: I support Senator O'Brien's proposal that if a decision is taken and we must await the decision of the Attorney General about a referendum, the indications are that it is not something that can be decided overnight. It is a complex legal issue on which the Attorney General must give definite advice to the Government but if the Attorney General decides there is not a need for a referendum, I...

Seanad: Counterfeit Pesticides (26 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: My question is about the sale of pesticides. While I know there is comprehensive legislation dealing with this matter, I would like to ask about counterfeit pesticides. My understanding is that there is a major trade in counterfeit pesticides across Europe, although the authorities are working hard to combat this problem. A loophole has been identified. It is illegal to sell counterfeit...

Seanad: Counterfeit Pesticides (26 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: My understanding is that there is adequate legislation but the problem is the impounding of products. There is concern that the EU regulations, which we have followed very carefully, involve a technicality about the impounding of counterfeit pesticide. The issue has been raised at European level. I do not know whether there is a proposal to introduce amending regulations to deal with it....

Seanad: Counterfeit Pesticides (26 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: I wish to add to what my colleague Senator Cáit Keane had to say on the JobBridge programme. When it was introduced, a public nursing home applied to be included in the programme, but it was advised it could not be part of it. However, representations having been made to the Minister, she changed the regulation so that now people who want to get experience of working with elderly people...

Seanad: Water Services: Statements (25 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. When I was Lord Mayor of Cork a number of years ago, I had to take a trip to Kenya. I visited a hospital 125 miles south of Nairobi, which did not have a water supply. The only water staff had to use was collected from the hospital roof during the two weeks of the year it rained, which was pumped into ten 50,000 l tanks. That was the hospital's water...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: Last Friday I had the privilege of attending the Cork Person of the Year ceremony. A monthly award is given and, at the end of the year, one of the 12 is picked. For instance, Maureen O'Hara was selected as Cork Person of the Month. However, Liam Casey won the annual award. He is from Cork but he works in China and employs more than 1,200 people. He made two points at the presentation....

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: When we debate health issues, we should examine the issue of education in the context of health care. In some areas, the number of deaths from a particular condition is much higher than others and this reflects how people live their lives. Education programmes could be undertaken and, in Cork city, the university, the hospitals and the HSE are working together. This should be taken on...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: I join in conveying sympathies to all the families, particularly those in west Cork, which suffered loss in recent days. I pay tribute to the emergency services who responded so quickly; that is a tribute to their commitment to the job. In response to the health question, there is no proposal to close 900 public beds. There is a proposal regarding efficiencies in the health service. Over...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise the non-registration of properties to the Private Residential Tenancies Board. A survey was carried out in Cork over the past few weeks and in the Mardyke alone, of the houses surveyed, 235 houses were not registered. Some 60% of houses around UCC and NCIT are not registered with the PRTB, with a loss of approximately €19 million in fees alone. The board was set up by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: We could debate the matter as we have gone after certain groups in society with regard to tax.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: Yes. A significant number of properties are not registered and there is a significant loss of income to the PRTB and the Revenue Commissioners. It is a matter for debate and the relevant Minister should be here to discuss it.

Seanad: Suicide Prevention: Statements (12 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch and thank her for her comprehensive speech. I have worked with her in Cork North Central for a number of years and I know that when she takes on a project, she sets her mind on achieving an outcome. I hope that by the time she finishes her term in the Department, the targets she has set will be met. The Minister of State is dedicated...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: I join my colleagues in regard to the nursing home issue. There is a need for a debate to consider how we will move forward. In particular, as I have done previously, I wish to raise the issue of the number of private nursing homes which cannot get qualified nurses. At present, there are over 750 vacancies for qualified nurses in private nursing homes. I was delighted to see the Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

Colm Burke: I join with the Cathaoirleach in wishing everyone well for 2012. I wish to follow up on what Senator Darragh O'Brien said in regard to our dealing with EU legislative proposals. We are only 50 weeks away from taking over the Presidency of the European Union on 1 January 2013. It would be appropriate for us to have a very proactive role in what the agenda will be in 2013. It is an ideal...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Colm Burke: I thank all for their contributions in the past eight months. I thank the leaders of all of the groups for the constructive manner in which debates have been conducted. I wish to refer to democracy. It is easy to criticise how we do our business, but we should value the fact that we have a good democratic system in this country. I accept there may need to be changes but let us compare our...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Colm Burke: I agree with Senator Barrett on the matter of health insurance. I have previously referred to a particular health care provider that is prepared to reduce costs by 6% but still the VHI will not offer cover to people admitted to that care unit. I filed a complaint on the matter which is now under investigation by the Competition Authority. We are coming up to Christmas and although we are in...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2011)

Colm Burke: This morning the Irish Examiner published the overtime figures for registrars alone which amounted to €100 million in the past 12 months. This is a huge amount of money and raises questions about organisation in the health service. It is an appropriate issue to discuss, together with others surrounding the health budget. Over €13 billion is being paid out this year and it is the next...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Colm Burke: They did give cover for 50 beds in Galway for the Bons Secours Hospital.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2011)

Colm Burke: As this legislation covers the next 12 months, a comprehensive review will be required to ensure we do not repeat previous mistakes. The amendments proposed could be considered over the longer term but we should leave them aside for now. In regard to moneys owed to hospitals, the problems are not solely caused by medical consultants. My legal practice received a hospital bill for an...