Results 3,641-3,660 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Legislative Framework Underpinning the State's Response (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: I wish to touch on another issue which was dealt with earlier relating to checks and balances between the government, the houses of parliament and the courts system. I was looking at what is happening in Australia, where a national cabinet seems to have been established consisting of the Prime Minister and the premiers of the six Australian states. Is there a danger in something like this?...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Legislative Framework Underpinning the State's Response (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and submissions. I also thank them for the work they are doing within the legal services area. It is important that there are checks and balances between the Executive, the Legislature and the courts. I wish to deal with the issue of regulation. As someone with a legal background I, along with a colleague, was involved a number of years ago...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Legislative Framework Underpinning the State's Response (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: The Bar Council please.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Legislative Framework Underpinning the State's Response (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: Does Ms McNally believe that due to the events of the past six months in particular, the usual level of scrutiny was not present and, as such, that all of the regulations brought in since 1 March, for example, should be listed in the next six months to see if there are any that need to be reviewed to ensure they do not give additional powers or procedures that are not covered by legislation?...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Legislative Framework Underpinning the State's Response (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: On the issue of remote hearings and, in particular, mental health tribunals and family law courts, are there issues of which Ms O'Boyle is aware which need to be looked at again with regard to trying to improve what can be done in some other court areas in respect of court hearings? What level of improvements could be put in place to try to assist people to ensure that all proper procedures...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Legislative Framework Underpinning the State's Response (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: I wish to refer to an issue that arose in the last few weeks. In New Zealand, notice of 48 hours is given of a change in regulations. In Ireland, regulations were introduced relating to gatherings. The Irish Hotels Federation wrote to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and that Department replied saying it had no correspondence from the Department of Health. The Irish Hotels...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Legislative Framework Underpinning the State's Response (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: Would there not also be a responsibility on the Department with which it corresponded? The Irish Hotels Federation wrote to the Department with responsibility for tourism. Would there not have been an obligation on that Department, if it did not have the information, to advise the federation that it should correspond directly with the Department of Health? I believe the regulation was made...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Human Rights and Civil Liberty Considerations (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: My thanks to the deputations for their submissions and presentations. They are very much appreciated. The presentation from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission sets out the need for clarity in respect of emergency legislation. In other words, IHREC is more or less talking about having a structure in place in future. What kind of structure is envisaged? For argument's sake, let...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Human Rights and Civil Liberty Considerations (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: With regard to both emergency legislation and regulation, does the witness believe we are giving too many powers under regulation? I know it is there in the legislation, but one does not have the same analysis of regulation as one has of legislation. Does she think we should be more careful that in passing legislation we are not, in a way, undermining the role of the Oireachtas by passing...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Human Rights and Civil Liberty Considerations (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: I gave an example this morning - it was something in which I was involved a number of years ago - where a regulation was in place for over 20 years and, in fact, there was no appropriate legislation underpinning that regulation. As I said, the regulation was in place for 20 years but there were no proper checks and balances in respect of it until the matter was brought to the attention of the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Human Rights and Civil Liberty Considerations (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: I would like to move on to another issue which arose in my own constituency. During the early summer large numbers of young people were congregating in parties in houses which was causing a problem for adjoining households. The residents had to take this matter to the courts. I accept the need for checks and balances in regard to the powers of An Garda Síochána. Does Mr. Herrick...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Human Rights and Civil Liberty Considerations (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: There was a particular challenge where the residents in the area in question had to take civil proceedings. Does Mr. Herrick believe there could have been a mechanism in place that required them to go down the civil route of bringing the matter to the attention of the courts?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Human Rights and Civil Liberty Considerations (9 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: Overall, does Mr. Herrick believe that the Garda has sufficient mechanisms in place to deal with this issue without going down the route of prosecuting people? Does the force have sufficient powers to deal with an issue like this?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (10 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: 147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if students that have taken a gap year from their studies following the leaving certificate 2019 will receive support from his Department in the CAO process to ensure comparability between an unprecedented 2019 and 2020; if there are substantial increases in CAO points in the leaving certificate 2020; and if he will make a statement on the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Examination of HIQA Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Nursing Homes in Ireland (10 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. They might give me written replies to some of the following questions. In its report, HIQA outlined its engagement with nursing homes from 25 March, referring to 2,500 phone calls and so on. Will the witnesses outline the work that was undertaken between 1 January and April 2020? They stated earlier that it was in the second week of April that...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Examination of HIQA Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Nursing Homes in Ireland (10 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: From 1 January 2020-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Examination of HIQA Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Nursing Homes in Ireland (10 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: -----we have no information.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Examination of HIQA Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Nursing Homes in Ireland (10 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: Why was it excluded? Why not include it in the information? The report that HIQA published, and even the presentation earlier, referred to what occurred since 13 March. We are anxious to find out what level of engagement there was with nursing homes between the time this issue emerged in Europe and 13 March. We have no information and it has not been presented to us at any stage. I...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Examination of HIQA Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Nursing Homes in Ireland (10 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: Was there communication with the HSE?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Examination of HIQA Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Nursing Homes in Ireland (10 Sep 2020)

Colm Burke: What was the HSE's response?