Results 7,881-7,900 of 11,306 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: The Role of Pharmacy Care in the Healthcare System: Irish Pharmacy Union (8 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Over the next six months, does Ms Foley anticipate progress with the Department on this issue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: The Role of Pharmacy Care in the Healthcare System: Irish Pharmacy Union (8 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: On the Department's response, the union has obviously raised the issue about the chief pharmacist. Has any indication been given by the Department on that issue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: The Role of Pharmacy Care in the Healthcare System: Irish Pharmacy Union (8 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: On the role of pharmacies and the minor ailment scheme issue, the IPU wants to see progress on that over the next six to eight months and engagement with the Department. Is the union satisfied that it could make progress on that? What can we as a health committee do to assist the union in making progress with the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: The Role of Pharmacy Care in the Healthcare System: Irish Pharmacy Union (8 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Obviously, we are behind other countries in terms of access to contraception because of the regulations. As I understand it, the Minister could easily change those regulations in the morning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: The Role of Pharmacy Care in the Healthcare System: Irish Pharmacy Union (8 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: What I am concerned about is that we had a very good presentation this morning and I would hate that it would be lost with just a presentation and questions. As a committee, we should formally write to the Department of Health looking for answers to those questions. The next time the Department of Health and the HSE are in, we could have time set aside to deal with this particular part of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: My apologies for not being at the earlier presentation; I had a question in the Dáil. On the retrofitting of houses, where someone who is in a semi-detached house has applied, is any mechanism in place - it is easy to do two houses together, especially semi-detached - whereby there is engagement with the adjoining property owner?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: I am talking about, for instance, a particular area in Cork where houses were built with cavity blocks, not cavity walls, so it is not an ideal situation. I have seen houses where the outside layer has been put in place and homeowners have got full SEAI grants but I was intrigued that there was no engagement with the adjoining property owner. It would have been easier to do two houses...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: It would actually work out cheaper for everyone in real terms to do two adjoining houses together. I wonder whether that issue might be considered, especially where external wraparound of houses is occurring. In fairness, the SEAI has been supportive of the type of houses where if the internal work is done, it does not work out perfectly, whereas the wraparound does.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: I will move on to another issue. The SEAI stated it supported 2,500 businesses in their energy transition. Will Dr. Byrne outline what level of supports the SEAI is talking about? What kind of employee numbers are involved in those companies? Out of the 2,500, are we talking about very small operations or big companies? A figure of 2,500 does not give us an idea of what the SEAI is...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Could a lot more be done on that? Many businesses are not aware of what could be done. Could we be more proactive on that? We are talking about a huge use of energy in offices and manufacturing facilities, and trying to improve the use of energy and getting value for money at the same time.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: That is correct.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Moving on from private businesses, what about the area of Departments and State enterprises as regards the efficient use of energy? We are doing very little within the public system. It is fine for new buildings but there has been very little movement regarding existing buildings, which are either owned or rented by State companies or Departments.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Leinster House is a typical example of the greatest waste of energy of all time. It is the most inefficient place as regards the use of energy.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: They should not be relying on the SEAI, but do we need to get a message out there in order for that to happen? Taxpayers' money is being spent in meeting the cost of that energy. Are we getting value for money? Could we be doing a lot more in a far faster timescale?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: If I could give you an example of-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: I can give an example of one hotel in respect of energy costs. In 2019, its energy cost was €120,000 and in 2022, it was €460,000. We do not have any breakdown of figures in the public sector as regards how much energy bills increased by. Therefore, since it is about taxpayers' money, we now need to be far more proactive in dealing with this. I am not sure that we are.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: If the SEAI asked the public sector for feedback on the energy cost increase over the past three years, would it be able to get the figure? Would Departments be able to give it? Is there just some figure buried in the middle of accounts such that there will never be a full assessment of the total increase in costs for, say, 2022?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Does the SEAI think we need to be more proactive in this area? It is a little too late because energy costs have been increasing dramatically. I have not seen anything serious happening in the public sector over the past six months to show a sudden change in approach.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Can the SEAI take a more proactive approach on this?