Results 3,281-3,300 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: World Health Organization: Public Health Advice (11 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: There is a report out in the UK this morning which shows that 78% of those who contracted Covid and 62% of deaths in UK hospitals relate to people who were overweight and obese. Is that replicated in other countries or is it something that pertains to the UK only? What percentage of deaths in the UK relate to people who had underlying conditions?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on the Fiscal Position (16 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their attendance and for the work they are doing in economic planning. On the issue of helping the economy, one of the problems I am coming across is the delay by banks in responding to the new challenges, especially in the housing market. I have seen cases where banks are not allowing people in receipt of full incomes to draw down loans because the employer of one...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on the Fiscal Position (16 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: Does Mr. Barnes agree that it will add to the economic downturn if the way the banks are managing the situation is allowed to continue?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on the Fiscal Position (16 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: It is about cash flow. It also applies to small businesses with a good track record that are now looking for an extension of their borrowings to assist them with cash flow. The same response is being given to SMEs by the banking sector. In real terms, the banking sector could be adding to the economic downturn. I am not saying it is adding to it.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on the Fiscal Position (16 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: This type of policy by the banks could contribute to such a downturn.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on the Fiscal Position (16 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: On the issue of exports, my understanding is that in March pharmaceutical exports were up 60% year on year. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council predicts an 8% fall in exports. Has it identified exactly where that fall in exports will occur? Is it in a specific area, for instance, electronics or services? Where do we expect the downturn to manifest?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on the Fiscal Position (16 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: Yes.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on the Fiscal Position (16 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: I wish to refer to the forecast and how we manage. If there is a situation where there is no agreement on Brexit what do we need to do now to plan for that scenario? Obviously it is the last thing we want to happen but if it does then it is another new challenge.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on the Fiscal Position (16 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: Savings in this country have been mentioned in terms of comparisons with 2008. The high level of borrowings in 2008 are not the same as now in 2020. Savings are now totally different as there is a significant amount of savings by individuals and, indeed, companies are in a good financial position. How can one now use those savings more effectively? Where there is a reduction in business...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Breslin, Mr. Reid and all of the staff from the HSE and the Department for the work they have done. I also thank the staff in all of the medical facilities in nursing homes, hospitals and care facilities. My understanding is that in February 2019, the number of deaths in nursing homes connected to the flu virus increased from about 600 per month, which would be the normal number...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: Would Mr. Breslin accept that there was also expertise within nursing homes? There were 23,500 people in nursing homes, so a very large number of people were being catered for. It was 1 April or 2 April before consultation started with nursing homes. If they had been involved from 6 March, perhaps we would have been better able to deal with the challenges they had.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: In a ward, for instance, with six patients, my understanding is that no action was taken until the outbreak started and there were no isolation facilities. There were no staff changing rooms. Staff came in from home and straight into work without any changing facilities available.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: This indicates that there was no planning.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: On the 56% which showed Covid free and the transfer of patients to those, can I get the numbers of transfer patients?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: Can we get the numbers of staff recruited, both nurses and care assistants, who previously worked in nursing homes?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: One of the problems nursing homes had, especially in February and March, was that they found the staff that they had were suddenly gone. Accordingly, they then had to recruit agency staff, which was a challenge in itself.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: Regarding the 56% of nursing homes that are Covid-free, could we have the number of patients transferred to them?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State's Response to Impact of Covid-19 on Gaeltacht Areas and the Islands (18 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: I want to deal with the issue of online shopping, which came up earlier. It increased substantially during the lockdown. What plans have we put in place to deal with this issue and the challenges? The more shopping that is done locally, the more jobs that are protected. What plan has been put in place to deal with this in the Gaeltacht areas and across the entire country? A lot of the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State's Response to Impact of Covid-19 on Gaeltacht Areas and the Islands (18 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: What about after Brexit? I refer especially to goods coming from the UK.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: I thank the SIPTU and INMO representatives for coming in this morning and for their detailed submissions, which we appreciate. I also thank their members for all the work they have done over the past three or four months in a very difficult situation. I will touch on one or two items. One relates to the number of people in the healthcare sector who have been affected. Is there a breakdown...