Results 2,281-2,300 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: In particular, the leader of the Fianna Fáil group might clarify the matter on the basis that on previous occasions, before the Leader's time, we were asked to come back in the middle of August. Has the Leader received any indication from any Member that we should sit during the month of August to discuss any matter?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for attending the meeting and giving us the detailed presentation. This is a complex area. My opening question relates to the population of Ireland and the overall cost of medications compared to other jurisdictions. Is there any comparison for what pharmaceuticals are costing us per head of population? The witness referred to a budget of approximately €2...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: On generic drugs, are the witnesses telling me that in the past three years, there has really only been a saving of less than 10%? It is €2 billion per annum and if we take €120 million out, is that €120 million over three years or €120 million per annum? If it is €120 million per annum then it is a minute saving of around 8% out of €2 billion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: In real terms then, we are making no progress on drug cost savings for the HSE.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: My problem is that per head of population, we are paying far more than an awful lot of other EU jurisdictions. When one goes back to the German situation, the Germans are not paying out the price the pharmaceutical companies are asking for because they can strike a very good bargain because they are dealing with a bigger population. We seem to be coming out of the wrong end when we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Funding of Orphan Drugs: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for the work they do in their individual areas. I know they are extremely committed and dedicated to the projects in which they are involved and helping patients who have these difficult medical conditions. For the record, I will correct a comment from earlier this morning. My figures were correct. My understanding is that of the 148 orphan drugs, 133 have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Funding of Orphan Drugs: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: The figure I have is 23.6 months.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Funding of Orphan Drugs: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: I have a question on the work being done and contacts at European level. I presume there are equivalent organisations supporting patients with the same medical conditions at a European level so has there been any contact with them about how they feel about joined-up thinking between countries to expedite the process? I go back to the German example. We are talking about being tied with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Funding of Orphan Drugs: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: I would like to ask the professor, in particular, about the reason we have made so little progress in reducing the overall cost of drugs. If we were to reduce the overall cost - I am talking about straightforward medication - we would obviously have a lot more money available for the purchase of orphan drugs. However, we seem to be purchasing a lot more drugs per head of population. Does...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Curriculum (13 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and agreeing to respond to the issue I raised on orphan drugs. Yesterday, the health committee heard presentations from the HSE and the body which approves drugs under the reimbursement scheme. There were also presentations from other organisations which expressed their concerns about delays. Orphan drugs are drugs for small groups of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Curriculum (13 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: I accept the Minister of State's response. The drugs which are going for approval have already gone through the whole scientific process. First, there is no doubt that the drugs have been approved and would be of benefit. Second, there is the mechanism that comes into play thereafter. I accept where the HSE is coming from, that if a particular price is required for a drug then that...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: Yesterday, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health decided to reject the draft Bill proposed by Deputy Gino Kenny. We took very detailed legal advice on the matter and it was found that the Bill had serious defects. It is important to convey the message that medicinal cannabis is available where a medical consultant is satisfied that it would benefit a patient. That consultant can apply...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: I refer to a particular area that is very close to oncology. As many as three of the six people did not turn up for their appointments.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: The HSE could introduce simple measures such as texts to solve the problem of non-attendance. Many units text patients in order to remind them of their appointments. Texts would be one way to solve the problem and should be introduced in all cases.

Seanad: Naval Service Deployment: Statements (13 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for bringing forward and dealing with this debate. It is important to emphasise again that there is a triple lock system involved in this matter. It requires a UN mandate, approval by the Government and approval by the Dáil. We are going through that system. We have done that before in respect of peacekeeping operations. There are...

Seanad: Mediation Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House and wish him every success in his new role. As a practising solicitor I am a little concerned at the views expressed on this area by some people. I think the Minister will agree with me. Solicitors do everything possible to get a resolution to a dispute. If one looks at cases listed for hearing, one will find that in the vast majority of cases people...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: Normally when we come in here and talk about health it is very much on the negative side. On the positive side, CSO figures for 2016 indicated the number of suicides has reduced from 451 in 2015 to 399 in 2016. It is a welcome drop but we have a long way to go. The frightening part about the figure is that of the 399 who died as a result of suicide in 2016, 318 were men. It is an area we...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2017)

Colm Burke: I join with other colleagues in thanking the Cathaoirleach for his help and assistance and all the staff here in the House. We also should thank the backroom staff in our own offices for their dedication, commitment and support over the past 12 months. I raise with the Leader an issue that arose in a recent survey carried out on the provision of palliative care in two hospitals, the Mater...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Colm Burke: I too join with others in congratulating everyone involved in preparing this Chamber. The facilities are clear evidence that there was a very good team effort between the people here in Leinster House, the planners, contractors and everyone involved. I congratulate them on the work they have done. I would like to raise the very good and welcome announcement today of €350 million to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (27 Sep 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for attending to deal with this matter. I have raised this issue with regard to junior doctors consistently over the past four to five years. In 2012, I conducted a survey of people doing their final medical examinations in Irish universities. It indicated that more than 60% of them did not intend to work in Ireland once they had finished their internship. A...