Results 6,581-6,600 of 8,081 for speaker:Peter Burke

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: On behalf of the Minister for Health, I would like to respond to Senator Craughwell, who I thank for raising this very important matter. At the outset, I wish to state that the Minister acknowledges that the provision of appropriate audiology services to children and adults is an important aspect of the healthcare system. The provision of such can prevent other health problems and promote...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: As the Acting Chair has said, I acknowledge Senator Craughwell discussing his personal experience. It is something I know from my late dad who had great difficulty in hearing. It puts people on the periphery of conversations and puts them out of social discourse with people. This has significant consequences for their ability to fit in and meet people. It has an impact on people's...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: I thank Senator Gallagher for tabling this very important issue regarding the National Ambulance Service and resourcing in the north east. I will take it on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. As Members of this House are aware, our ambulance service has experienced a significant and unprecedented rise in patient demand in the past two years. Last year a record total of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: I thank Senator Gallagher for his very important Commencement matter. As I pointed out, more than €200 million of an unprecedented level of investment was approved in the past year for the National Ambulance Service. This provided for front-line paramedic capacity building, as I outlined in my opening statement, as well as a provision for 27,000 hours through the private ambulance...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Overcrowding (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who has been concerned for some time about the congestion experienced in the emergency department at UHL, which has led to long patient experience times and patients waiting on trolleys for admission. According to the HSE’s TrolleyGAR, there were 470 patients counted on trolleys at 8...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Overcrowding (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: As I mentioned in my opening statement, significant resources have been invested in UHL over recent years. The workforce at UHL has increased by 42%, or 1,161 whole-time equivalents, since the end of 2019. It is accepted that a key part of the solution for Limerick is additional beds. Work on a new inpatient block at UHL has commenced, with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, breaking...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: I wish to respond on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I thank Deputy Hourigan for raising this issue. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform introduced special Covid leave with pay for all Civil Service and public sector employees at the start of the pandemic to assist in preventing the onward spread of Covid in work premises. Currently, special Covid...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Hourigan for the very important points she has raised. I will pass them on to the Minister for Health. The Government recognises the significant role of public healthcare workers throughout the pandemic. They have gone beyond the call of duty, working at the front line, in clinically exposed environments treating Covid-positive patients in extremely difficult circumstances....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Working Group on Disinformation (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: I wish to point out that there is an independent secretariat to record all items discussed at Government meetings. I do not want the suggestion to be thrown out that there is anything inappropriate about the Government meeting tech firms. As we all know, and as Senators in this House are acutely aware, politicians in Ireland are very accessible to all strands of society, which is very...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: It certainly is a priority. We have very clearly pointed out the increase in freight and passenger numbers passing through Rosslare post Brexit. To take advantage of these opportunities, additional infrastructure is needed to connect all the routes together and the strong connectivity that lies between Dublin and the rest of the country. It is a very important project and as I have said,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Maritime Safety (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: I hear Senator Lombard's frustration in connection with this issue. I will endeavour to talk to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and to liaise with the Senator specifically on a timeline for the legislation that we referenced, which would potentially be a help. This is also to give his community some assurance. He rightly pointed out in his intervention the great work they are doing in living up...

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement and Windsor Framework: Motion (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: I welcome the opportunity to represent the Government in the debate on this Sinn Féin Private Members’ motion. I thank and acknowledge all Senators for their contributions on this important matter. The Government will not be opposing this motion. The Good Friday Agreement, signed almost 25 years ago in Belfast, remains a remarkable achievement. The agreement brought peace and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: I thank the Cathaoirleach, and I wish him the best in his tenure as Chair of this very important committee. I look forward to working with him in the time ahead. I know he brings a huge amount of experience, building on the great work he did in the Department of Foreign Affairs over the last number of years. As a valued friend and colleague, I look forward to working very closely with him...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: No, it is just two political parties at the moment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: Yes, in theory absolutely. I want to point out that this is really an issue that has been set out and there is a mechanism that would prevent getting to that stage because there are a number of ways in terms of the joint committee between the EU and the UK that would be established to bring resolution issues and adjudication procedures to ensure that it hopefully never gets to that stage....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: Absolutely. I understand that steel would come in through an EU quota and would be treated as being from the EU because it is under the rules of that quota.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Burke: It would be from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland. Steel is treated under EU quota rules when coming into Northern Ireland so it has that accreditation. However, we will come back with other details regarding that.