Results 2,501-2,520 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (7 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: That would be appreciated.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: I agree with the points made by my colleagues on the question of councillor's pay. We have all raised this issue in our own parties in the past 12 months to two years. While councillors get travelling expenses for travelling to council meetings, what is not taken into account are all the other meetings that they attend. I know there are councillors in the Gallery and I welcome those...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services (Ducting and Cables) Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: I welcome this important Bill. In respect of wayleave agreements, and in particular access to broadband, it is important that where we do work of any description we should ensure that we also put in ducting for additional services that may be required in the future. When I was Lord Mayor of Cork city in 2003 and 2004 and we did major work on Patrick Street we insisted on an adequate amount...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services (Ducting and Cables) Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: Next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of the Sláintecare Report (Resumed) (14 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank the delgates for all of the work they have done in their comprehensive research and reports. It it appreciated. My first question is about care of the elderly. The report states there are now approximately 640,000 people over 66 years of age and that the figure will be 1.1 million by 2030. The current ratio of people in nursing homes and community hospitals - there are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of the Sláintecare Report (Resumed) (14 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: No, the figure I quoted was 640,000 of our population is aged over 66 and that figure will increase to 1.1 million by 2030.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of the Sláintecare Report (Resumed) (14 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of the Sláintecare Report (Resumed) (14 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: Electronic communication is an issue. Our problem here is that we have something like 1,700 different computer systems in our health service currently. In Denmark, they have 25 and are working down towards five. I understand that in Denmark there is a patient medication card. If one is in hospital or with a doctor, it is possible to get one's file up from the card and to put the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: We need to be very careful in respect of Northern Ireland at present. It is a time for cool heads and calmness. There is a problem in that we do not have an Assembly. We have a group representing the entire population of Northern Ireland in the House of Commons that has the support of about 36% of the population. There is another 64% that is not represented there. We really do not know...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: Like Senator Devine, I would like to thank the library service for the very comprehensive document it produced on elderly care. I have previously stated that the number of people aged over 65 now totals 637,000 and by 2030 the figure will be over 1 million. That is why we published the national plan for our health service. We currently have 2.6 beds per 1,000 of population, whereas the...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome the funding that has been provided for the Cork area over recent months. I make no apologies for putting pressure on both the city council and the Department in that respect. The Minister came to this House to announce a €39 million budget for seven projects. We will have 134 houses built by the city council. The Boyce's...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (21 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for the coming to the House to deal with this important issue. I thank him and all the staff in his Department for the work they are doing. It is always a complex issue when dealing with trying to alleviate flooding. There are many of parties involved from landowners to property owners to local authorities and other authorities. We need to approach this issue...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (21 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: To clarify, subject to the Minister of State's approval, I believe time will be set aside for the Minister of State to respond. If other Members wish to contribute-----

Seanad: Versatis Medicated Plasters: Statements (21 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: I propose that I take five minutes and Senator Mulherin takes the remaining three minutes.

Seanad: Versatis Medicated Plasters: Statements (21 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The withdrawal of Versatis is a very serious issue. It is important that everyone realises that the medication has not been withdrawn from the drugs refund scheme and there is now a different mechanism for dealing with same. The way this matter has been approached was probably not the correct way to do so. People had become reliant on Versatis...

Seanad: Versatis Medicated Plasters: Statements (21 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: I am only referring to one part of that city. It seems that once anti-depressants are prescribed one must always take them. That is not what medicine is about. It is about ensuring a person's health can improve and that he or she can be weaned off medication over time. The debate has started but we must find ways to improve the health system overall.

Seanad: Versatis Medicated Plasters: Statements (21 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: This has been clearly set out by the expert working in the health service who is the qualified person to deal with the supervision of medicines. That is clearly on the medical records.

Seanad: Versatis Medicated Plasters: Statements (21 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: It is clearly set out.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (21 Feb 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for dealing with this matter and my colleague, Senator Martin Conway, for bringing forward the motion. I also commend Senators Dolan and Kelleher for coming forward with their views on this matter and all of those who have contributed to the debate. I want to focus on one matter, namely local authorities and the role of disability officers. I have raised this issue on...