Results 3,121-3,140 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Genetic Testing: Motion (10 Jul 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for his response and Senators Norris and Boyhan for raising this extremely important issue. I recall attending a meeting dealing with the issue of rare diseases in Farmleigh a number of years ago. As a result of that meeting, at which representatives of quite a number of the organisations concerned were gathered, it was decided a national rare diseases office would be...

Seanad: Genetic Testing: Motion (10 Jul 2019)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Second Stage (11 Jul 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, for coming to the House to introduce the Bill. I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, for attending to deal with it. This is welcome legislation. We have the report from Mr. Justice Meenan which recommends the setting up of a tribunal and deals with how it is to be established and operated. We have appointed the...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Colm Burke: While it is important that we set up this tribunal, there are issues arising. I wrote to the Minister on another aspect of concern, namely, a circular issued to all CervicalCheck clinics over recent weeks. In some cases, GPs may have identified a person for whom the waiting time for the results to come back might be too long and may have taken decisions about trying to fast-track that...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Colm Burke: I think the Minister has explained this matter. In fairness, we have appointed a judge to chair this tribunal and two other people with at least ten years experience will be appointed to the tribunal. One of the major issues in assessing damages is the foreseeability of something happening in the future.That is what a court will have to do in assessing damages. Likewise, the tribunal will...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Colm Burke: I can see where Senator Higgins is coming from. In fairness to the tribunal, however, and Ms Justice Mary Irvine, who has been appointed as its chair, where an application is made for a matter to be held in public, she will give serious consideration to it being held in public. There is no major concern about it being held in public. However, for people to take part in the tribunal, they...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for introducing this legislation and getting it through both Houses. It is important and it is crucial that its provisions be available to people who have had to go through the trauma of the past 12 months. Options now exist that did not previously. Where testing is concerned, we are very reliant on resources from outside the State. We should set out a clear programme...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Sep 2019)

Colm Burke: I welcome everyone back to the House for this term. Today's edition of the Irish Examinerreports on the publication of an audit of food offered in canteens in six schools. The idea of food being available in schools was designed to promote healthy eating but the survey indicates food is being offered that does not represent health eating. Items such as chips and muffins have been...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Colm Burke: Observing scenes from Westminster and the United States yesterday, one can only be alarmed by the direction politics is taking in two of the world's bastions of democracy. Partisanship and populism risk poisoning politics in western democracies and do little to serve the needs of citizens in a time of mounting global challenges. I ask colleagues to be mindful of these troubling political...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: I have some students from UCC as my guests. I hope the witnesses' replies will not be too negative or the students might find they have to leave the country because we are getting too negative here about a lot of things. I want to refer to Medical Council figures. I am intrigued by how we are commenting on medical practitioners in this country. My reading of the Medical Council figures...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: There has been an increase in the number of doctors.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: The media impression is that fewer doctors are working in Ireland, and that is not correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: The number of consultants-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: I do not understand why a system working 20 years ago-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: Does Mr. Owens have a list of additional measures that should be put in place that are not in place now? Could we get that into the-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: I would appreciate that because I believe it is needed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: It is the issue about adverse outcomes and the lack of back-up support.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: I do not want to imply that we should not hire more staff. For instance, in terms of public health nurses, we are talking about expanding primary care but the number of public health nurses employed increased in the same period by 3.7%. I agree there must be an increase in administration management at all times but my problem is the disproportionate increase in some areas when there are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Colm Burke: These are decisions supported by the HSE.