Results 401-420 of 10,669 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Prohibition of Smoking on Leinster House Campus: Motion (15 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: If we want to set a target date for this we must allow a reasonable period for it to be dealt with. It will not be dealt with in three months or even six months. The earliest period is 12 months, although that is a personal view. The Senator should not set a target date which cannot be implemented.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I agree with the remarks of Senator Crown on the composition of the inquiry set up to investigate the Galway tragedy. All the people appointed are credible but we now have a problem that must be dealt with and it cannot be allowed to run on and on. It is important for everyone, including the family concerned, all the medical staff in Galway, the consultants and nursing staff, that there is...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: In fairness to everyone involved there should be some compromise by everyone. There is no way something can be delivered that will satisfy all parties. Anyway, this must be examined at the earliest possible date and I call on the Leader to convey this to the Minister for Health. I realise it is not possible for the Minister to come to the House today but it should be dealt with at the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres (20 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: This matter relates to the primary care centre in Knocknaheeny. My understanding is that the centre has been completed for more than four years but is not occupied. According to the agenda of Cork City Council, it agreed to transfer the land with the primary care centre on it. I am not sure why it has taken four years for that transfer to take place. A primary care centre is needed in the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres (20 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I am surprised by this response. I have no information about when it is proposed to build the primary care unit on the St. Mary's campus and I am not aware of the submission of plans. I will table another Adjournment matter to deal with that issue because the centre to which I refer was completed more than four years ago. The Minister of State said the matter goes back to 2004. It is now...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Forthcoming Health Council: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: Each member state has 30 months in which to put in place legislation relating to the cross-border health care directive, which as passed in November 2011. Would it be possible to co-ordinate matters in order that such legislation would be passed in all 27 member states by the end of our Presidency?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: Following on from the previous speaker, the death of Savita is a very tragic situation but there must be some compromise in establishing the inquiry to find out what went wrong. The present debate will not bring about the necessary investigation. In fairness to everyone, there must be compromise by all involved to ensure we establish a proper inquiry team. The chairman appointed has a...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: As I said yesterday, the person who was appointed as the chairperson has a lot of experience-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I do have a question. In this case, the HSE is obliged to carry out an inquiry because it is contracted to provide health care services in this country. A very serious incident occurred where there was a tragic loss of life and therefore the HSE is obliged to carry out an inquiry into what went wrong. The team that has been selected is very experienced and is under the chairmanship of a...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: -----where there were ten maternal deaths in a three-year period. He has a lot of experience.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: In fairness, this is a matter where-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: Yes. It is important that the message be conveyed to the Minister that the inquiry be held at the earliest possible date in order that the facts are made available to the public. The structure that has been set up is the proper way of dealing with the issue and that does not prevent a public inquiry being held at a later date, if necessary. At least let us get all of the facts out in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: World Prematurity Day 2012: Discussion with Irish Premature Babies Organisation (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and for the tremendous work they have done over the last few years. Given that the birth rate has increased from 54,000 to 75,000 per annum without a significant increase in staff levels, we have achieved great success in reducing the perinatal mortality rate. I understand smaller units are experiencing problems in regard to availability of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: World Prematurity Day 2012: Discussion with Irish Premature Babies Organisation (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I also asked about the level of co-operation between the hospitals on the junior doctor issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: World Prematurity Day 2012: Discussion with Irish Premature Babies Organisation (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: A junior doctor in the UK can get a three-year contract with a number of different hospitals.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: World Prematurity Day 2012: Discussion with Irish Premature Babies Organisation (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: He or she might do a year in each of three different hospitals. The three-year contract gives certainty to junior doctors. They do not have to worry about going for interview a month after starting a new job. I wonder whether we can develop that here as a national policy. Someone who gets a three-year contract could spend two years in Dublin and a year in a regional location. That would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: World Prematurity Day 2012: Discussion with Irish Premature Babies Organisation (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I would like to return to the question of whether there is a relationship between drugs, drink and smoking and babies being born prematurely. Has any research been done on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: World Prematurity Day 2012: Discussion with Irish Premature Babies Organisation (22 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: Each year, approximately 40 babies who are born in the Rotunda Hospital go into withdrawal symptoms after being delivered.

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Bill and the Minister of State to the House. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, for the comprehensive overview of the Bill which is welcome. I agree with Senator Norris that the records in regard to abuse indicate that much of it occurred within the family. It is important that this legislation deals with the areas that went unchecked for many years. I recall a case...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Discussion with Minister of State (27 Nov 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for a comprehensive overview of the programme in which we will engage for the next six months. On the problem of youth unemployment, which Deputy O'Reilly raised and to which I referred at a meeting this morning, what action does the Minister of State anticipate on this issue in the next six months? While the unemployment rate, especially for those aged under...