Results 1-20 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (15 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 123. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for the up to date position on the roll-out nationally of distinct family law courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24868/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (15 May 2025)

Colm Burke: What action is the Department taking to reduce the application and appeals timeframe for international protection? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter, particularly in view of the fact that there has been a substantial increase in the number of applications in 2024, when there were 18,651 in total? What action is the Department taking to expedite the appeals process and to deal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (15 May 2025)

Colm Burke: As the Minister outlined, there are 12,600 appeals on hand, but there was a substantial increase in the number of applicants in 2023, when the figure was 13,277. In 2024, the figure was 18,651. In the first three months of this year, there were 3,021. This means an average of 1,000 per month, which is 12,000 per year. We must consider how we can expedite the whole appeals process, deal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (15 May 2025)

Colm Burke: I accept what the Minister is saying. Both of us, coming from a legal background, will know we also have to be careful not only about the issue of constitutional rights but also about the fear regarding judicial review. Once an applicant enters a judicial review process, we have a difficulty. It is extremely important that we get the appeals process correct but it is also important that we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (15 May 2025)

Colm Burke: Could I get a breakdown of the timeframe regarding the 12,600?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Derelict Sites (15 May 2025)

Colm Burke: One of the problems with derelict sites relates to title difficulties. Local authorities have a power to resolve this by using CPOs to assist developers. We do not seem to have been successful in getting local authorities to engage with people. If they did engage, I am of the view that many of the issues that obtain could be resolved. The other issue that needs to be resolved in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 107. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to confirm the number of housing completions in Cork in 2024; to specify the number completed by type of housing (private, social, affordable, cost rental); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24840/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (15 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 113. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to clarify what engagement has taken place between Uisce Éireann and his Department on the taking in charge and upgrading of over 500 water sewage treatment plants that were built prior to 2008 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24841/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (15 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 157. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he plans to introduce legislation making it an offence to document and-or distribute video footage and-or images of fatal accidents, in view that this is becoming more prevalent with the use of smartphones and other devices with camera features; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24867/25]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: Blackpool suffered flooding damage in 2010, 2012 and 2013. It was agreed that a flood relief programme would be put in place. Environmental impact studies were carried out and presented by the Office of Public Works, OPW, to the Department of public expenditure. There was a judicial review in 2021, but the environmental impact study was left on someone's desk for 12 months in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sports Funding (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: If the Minister of State is in Cork at any stage, he might come to my home parish of Inniscarra, which has 50 acres of sports grounds. The rugby club, the soccer club, the GAA club and the camogie club all have their own individual pitches, all of which were developed over the past 25 to 30 years. They are very well planned facilities and are all together in one area. We need to do that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sports Funding (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 100. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount that was spent by his Department in supporting sports clubs and organisations in Cork in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22679/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sports Funding (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: Will the Minister outline the amount spent by his Department in supporting sports clubs and organisations in Cork in 2024?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sports Funding (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister and fully agree with him there was a huge amount of funding provided last year and over the past ten years. It is a huge initiative for sports organisations. I find that for every euro the sports organisations get in grants, they raise another €5 through voluntary effort. The facilities provided have been superb. An issue I want to focus on is large-scale...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State very much for his reply. What we need to do, however, is to set out a clear plan to try to get the waiting time back to ten weeks. At the moment, there appears to be no plan. There is a plan to recruit people but targets do not appear to have been set. This is extremely important. It will probably take three years, and a clear plan should be set out now for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 52. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting time for driving test appointments at test centres in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22681/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: I had two people on to me this week. One person got their appointment for 22 December in Wilton, in Cork. The other person's appointment is for 5 January 2026. That is an outrageous period of time that people have to wait for a test. I have parents on to me. One parent's son has to be dropped to work at 4 o'clock in the day and his other parent has to collect him after midnight every...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Policy (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 149. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps being taken by his Department to diversify and increase tourism potential from other countries outside of Great Britain and the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22678/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 192. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made to date in respect of the key recommendations set out in the Independent Review Group into the Defence Forces Report 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18007/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 202. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made to date in respect of the establishment of an independent external complaints system for serving members in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18006/25]