Results 361-380 of 10,663 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: Following the comments of Senator Thomas Byrne on the children's hospital, yesterday I raised the point that we must consider this in respect of the coming 20 years and long-term planning. It is important the decision is reached on that basis rather than on current requirements. There has been too much delay going back over ten or 15 years and the wrong decision was made because we did not...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House to deal with this important reforming Bill. I thank my colleagues for the very constructive manner in which they have dealt with this debate and for their amendment. I have a problem with the amendment in that the inclusion of dates and deadlines can sometimes delay action because those concerned may feel they do not need to move until the date specified.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: Discretion should be left with the Minister. With regard to the issue of reform, we are dealing with the largest employer in the country. Over 100,000 people are employed. Making the required changes will take time and will not occur overnight. Many of the changes need to be expedited. The Minister needs discretion in dealing with this reform. The Bill, as drafted, gives him that...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: Tá.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: My apologies.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: Tá.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: My apologies.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: I support what Senator Gilroy said. The amendment is well intentioned As explained earlier by Senator Gilroy and the Minister, we are setting up a transitionary structure and to go through the process of advertising every position that will have to be filled would take too long and would slow down the whole process. When an entity is being restructured, the Minister has to have a fair...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: The proposal is that the words "such opinion being corroborated by independent written medical advice," be inserted. I am a little concerned as the proposal does not make any provision, for example, if a person refuses to turn up to get independent medical advice. The legislation would not provide for any requirement for the person to turn up and the Minister could therefore be caught in a...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: I agree with my colleague, Senator Gilroy. Courts have given interpretations to the words "conduct" and "practice". They have two different interpretations. The Minister's amendment is being put forward because we have interpretations. The reason this amendment is being tabled is to ensure there is no misinterpretation in court proceedings at a future date or in any kind of hearing in...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: My concern is where the HSE employs a company, which may be tax resident in Ireland. Does the amendment confuse the matter where the worker, while employed by the company, may not be resident for tax purposes in Ireland? It could cause complications.

Seanad: National Dementia Strategy: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. While listening to this debate it occurred to me that approximately one third of all debates in the House are directly related to health care. This emphasises the importance of the issue and I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this extremely important motion. It is an area on which we need to focus and bring about the necessary...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Vetting (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: I support what Senator Gilroy said. The amendment is well intentioned As explained earlier by Senator Gilroy and the Minister, we are setting up a transitionary structure and to go through the process of advertising every position that will have to be filled would take too long and would slow down the whole process. When an entity is being restructured, the Minister has to have a fair...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Vetting (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: The proposal is that the words "such opinion being corroborated by independent written medical advice," be inserted. I am a little concerned as the proposal does not make any provision, for example, if a person refuses to turn up to get independent medical advice. The legislation would not provide for any requirement for the person to turn up and the Minister could therefore be caught in a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Vetting (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: I agree with my colleague, Senator Gilroy. Courts have given interpretations to the words "conduct" and "practice". They have two different interpretations. The Minister's amendment is being put forward because we have interpretations. The reason this amendment is being tabled is to ensure there is no misinterpretation in court proceedings at a future date or in any kind of hearing in...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Vetting (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: My concern is where the HSE employs a company, which may be tax resident in Ireland. Does the amendment confuse the matter where the worker, while employed by the company, may not be resident for tax purposes in Ireland? It could cause complications.

Seanad: National Dementia Strategy: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. While listening to this debate it occurred to me that approximately one third of all debates in the House are directly related to health care. This emphasises the importance of the issue and I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this extremely important motion. It is an area on which we need to focus and bring about the necessary...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: I may be going into an area which is slightly outside the witnesses' remit. It concerns competition within the health care sector.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: I am talking about the private health care sector. On the one hand, if the number of beds is increased, the level of competition increases, which could assist in reducing price. On the other hand, if the number of beds is increased, we are then creating a cashflow problem for the insurers in the sense that the more services provided, the more demand is placed on those services. It is about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance Sector: Discussion (25 Oct 2012)

Colm Burke: I am not sure of the issues I raised were outside the remit of the witnesses. They were not dealt with and I wonder whether the witnesses could refer to my questions on competition within the health care sector.