Results 1,221-1,240 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Catherine McGuinness (19 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: As someone who organised public meetings around the country and collected more than 50,000 signatures on the street, I am well aware of it.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Catherine McGuinness (19 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: My question is about how slow we are to respond to the need for legislative change. As somebody who has been in the Houses of the Oireachtas and on the Bench, what would Ms McGuinness change to make the Oireachtas and the structures in place respond faster to the need for change? It was stated that it would take ten years to change a law in this particular area but it took seven. There are...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: I am raising this issue because the figures relating to it were brought to my attention yesterday by the Union of Students in Ireland. As Fine Gael's spokesperson on health in the Seanad, I thought it would be appropriate to seek a response in respect of it from the relevant Department. The Union of Students in Ireland argues that the cost of the relevant medication can vary quite...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: Could the Minister of State clarify whether the product could be supplied by a pharmacist without a prescription?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: Is the Minister of State saying that if someone has a medical card a prescription is not required?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: Is a prescription required in both cases?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: Is a person entitled to get the product over the counter if they have a medical card?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: Is it not covered by the medical card?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: But they must have a prescription.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: I agree with Senator O’Donnell about the current problem we have with the medical profession. It was recently revealed at the Joint Committee on Health and Children that there are 253 vacant consultant posts. In one of the medical newspapers this weekend it was suggested that as many as 20% of all consultant posts might be vacant. That is a serious issue because we are losing senior...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: Currently, the State Claims Agency will cover anything after the first €1 million. There is a need to reduce the cap to €500,000 where cover is provided by the insurance companies. That should be examined immediately.

Seanad: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: The legislation is most comprehensive. There must be some latitude for the Department and the Minister. No matter what Minister is in office, he or she can only introduce regulation that is in keeping with the terms of the legislation and the purpose of the legislation is to help to reduce the number of people smoking and also to remove all the marketing ploys that are available to the...

Seanad: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for bringing forward this legislation and all the staff in the Department of Health and in the Office of the Attorney General for their work in this area. It is important that we have legislation because the likelihood is that there will be some challenge and we must ensure all the t's are crossed and the i's dotted. A great deal of work has gone into this Bill. I wish...

Seanad: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Care of the Elderly (24 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: I apologise to the Minister of State because I did not realise this matter would be taken so soon after I raised another issue with her last Thursday. On this occasion, I am seeking clarification with regard to changes that are being made in the area of elderly care. I have raised this subject with the Minister of State previously. It is back on the table now. I am proposing the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Care of the Elderly (24 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply. I was particularly pleased to hear her closing remarks. Everyone agrees that the only way forward is to work together. All the people involved in this area want to work together and with the Department and the HSE to make sure plans are drawn up properly and carefully to ensure the best possible services are available for everyone...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Reform) Bill 2014: Second Stage (25 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister. I, too, welcome this Bill in the sense of having a debate on this important issue. Major changes have taken place over the past three years in the health care sector and it is important we debate and scrutinise everything that has happened. In fairness to Senator Quinn, much work and research have been done on this Bill and I thank him and his assistants on the work...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Indemnity Cover (25 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: I apologise for dragging the Minister back again so soon.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Indemnity Cover (25 Jun 2014)

Colm Burke: He has been in the Chamber three or four times this week. A number of people from the medical profession have been in contact with me. Some of them are members of organisations within the medical profession and others are individual medical consultants. The problem lies with the Medical Protection Society, MPS, which is a non-profit organisation that provides insurance for those in private...