Results 941-960 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to the House and thank him for taking the time to deal with this matter today. I also thank the Minister for the work he has done to date in regard to reform in our legal process. Substantial reforms have been made in the past two and a half years and it is important we would...

Seanad: Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for his comments. I also wish to thank Senators who have contributed to this debate, including Senators Naughton, Ó Murchú, Bacik, van Turnhout, Barrett and Ó Clochartaigh, for their constructive comments. This is only the start of the process and I fully agree with what the Minister said in that regard. He said the legislation we enact must put in place...

Seanad: Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday, 26 November 2013.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Prevention and Treatment of Lyme Disease: Discussion (21 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for the very good presentations. I grew up on a farm and this reminds me of the time in the 1970s when people working on farms were being diagnosed with brucellosis, particularly chronic brucellosis. At the time, it took GPs some time to become familiar with the symptoms of this disease and from what the witnesses have said, their experience sounds very much like that....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: HSE Funding (26 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: This matter arises on foot of a reply I received on 17 October to a question in respect of section 38 and section 39 organisations which I submitted to the Joint Committee on Health and Children in September. I have in my possession the appendix to the 2012 annual report of the HSE, which indicates that some 2,680 organisations are receiving funding from the executive. The total amount of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: HSE Funding (26 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. He indicated an additional information return was added to all service arrangements in 2013 requiring agencies to separately report on all individual staff paid at grade 8. I was not informed of this when I received a reply on this matter in October. At that time, it was stated that the Health Service Executive did not have the power to seek...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Information and Quality Authority Corporate Plan 2013-2015: Discussion (26 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I apologise for having to leave this meeting early, but I must raise an issue on the Adjournment in the Seanad. I thank Mr. McEnery for his presentation. I wish him every success in his role as chairperson of the authority. I believe HIQA is playing an important part in setting standards and making sure they are implemented. The question I would like to raise relates to an important...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: It is important that we have a debate on health, because reforms are taking place. It is easy for Senator MacSharry to criticise the Minister, but his party was in government for 14 years and had the opportunity to bring stability to the system.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: Unfortunately, we-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: We inherited a system whereby in 2003 it was agreed that by 2012 there would be 3,600 consultants. In fact, when Fianna Fáil left office the number was short by 1,100. The Minister has to deal with the fallout from the system that was introduced to deal with junior doctors. More than 2,000 of the 4,900 junior doctors are only on six-month contracts. The Minister is providing...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: A series of initiatives have been introduced to ensure we get value for money from section 38 and section 39 organisations. In the 2012 budget, €3.27 billion of the total amount of €13.3 billion was paid to organisations that are not under the control of the Department or the HSE. The Minister has put in place necessary regulation and procedures to ensure full accountability...

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for being with us and for bringing forward this Bill, which is very welcome. I thank her for her announcement this morning of €30 million for nine projects around the country. One of those projects is in my old local electoral area of Knocknaheeny in Cork. I think €1.8 million is going in there and it is very welcome news for the area to give that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (28 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank all the contributors for a comprehensive overview. One of the things that comes across from the presentations is the lack of stability, which is of concern for them because it does not allow them to undertake long-term planning. We must accept that fundamental changes are ongoing concerning the reorganisation of health services. It would be helpful if they could do long-term...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (28 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I apologise for having to leave for a vote in the Seanad. I am not sure if my question on the reconfiguration of hospitals was dealt with. In one urban centre many hospitals may be providing the same service and yet other services are not being provided. Can the insurance industry play a part in that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (28 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I referred to the duplication of services in some areas, which results in a higher cost. In the area of cancer care, for example, a major programme of reform has led to the establishment of eight centres of excellence for the provision of services. I am concerned that significant sums of money are going out to the voluntary sector where, in some instances, there is a duplication of services...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

Colm Burke: I join my colleagues in raising the issue of the number of agencies that are getting funding from the HSE. For the information of the House, 2,680 organisations are in receipt of funding totalling €3.27 billion per annum. It is 25% of the health budget so it is important that we have a debate on it. I welcome the decision by Jonathan Irwin to disclose the pay of senior staff. Every...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Colm Burke: I have been contacted in the past two days by a young family, with four young children, whose local authority has allocated it a house. The house was vacant for some time and the electricity was disconnected. I am now advised that the procedure for reconnecting the electricity will take three months. It is unacceptable that two State authorities, the local authority and the ESB cannot...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Colm Burke: I am aware of that but this is an issue that cannot be left as it is. This is a young family who want to get into a house before Christmas but which is told that it will take three months to reconnect the electricity. The local authority has to send in an application, the ESB must send back a bill, and the local authority must pay the bill before the reconnection is made. It is outrageous...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank my colleagues in the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion and for their contributions to this debate. I assure Senator Marc MacSharry, as someone from the same constituency as the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, that she is well able to fight her corner. I have no doubt whatsoever that she will secure every possible cent for this area of the health care budget. ...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Colm Burke: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.