Results 1,521-1,540 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Possible Exit of UK from European Union: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: In the UK elections to the European Parliament, many of the people elected were not pro-Europe to a large extent. If there were a vote in the morning in the UK, it might decide to leave the EU. There will be a long debate on the matter and the UK will seek a very much reformed EU. However, if the UK decided it was not happy with the package being offered, what would be the consequences...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee and commend them on their dedication and commitment. When I first came across this issue three and a half years ago, it was a case of everyone fighting for his or her own corner. It is important that we work together to help families coping with a rare disease. Has the 2011 EU directive on cross-border health care been transposed? I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: I raised the issue of the cross-border health care directive and the treatment abroad office. No one responded to that and it is a big issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: I am aware of that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: Why not set up a more streamlined process for dealing with it? This is where the problem is arising. People are left in mid-air for a quite a long time, not knowing whether they will be able to get the required support for that treatment abroad. I have come across a number of cases where it went around in circles for three or four months, which is unfair to the families and to the patient...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: What about the transposition of the directive and the setting up of structures for dealing with the cross-border care directive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: Has the EU cross-border health care directive been transposed and have we set up a procedure for its implementation?

Seanad: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (3 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. I fully support him in bringing forward the legislation and spearheading the issue of plain packaging, which is long overdue. Given that more than 50 years ago a Surgeon General of the US identified that smoking was a real health problem and a real health risk, it has taken us a long time to react. In fairness, many campaigns have been conducted over...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme (4 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I am raising this matter regarding a drug, Fampyra, which is suitable for some MS patients. I accept fully that it is not suitable for all patients. A number of people have been in contact with me about this. They are paying more than €300 a month for medication. They are not entitled to claim under the drugs payment scheme and I know one of these people is on a medical card and is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme (4 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply. She said discussions are ongoing. Does the Minister of State have any idea when the discussions might conclude or is it very much a case of what progress is made in the coming weeks? Has there been any indication that there will be some progress on the matter?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I agree with Senator Bradford's comments on the self-employed. Many self-employed people who ran small businesses over the past four to five years in difficult financial circumstances continued to pump money in from their savings in order to keep companies going and workers employed, and they made considerable sacrifices. Those who run their own businesses have to pay commercial rates...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (5 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Last Saturday morning, someone whose husband had had two heart attacks attended my clinic in Cork. He is on medication. He takes the train from Cork to Dublin and then the train from Dublin to Newry every two months to buy medication because he can get two months' supply cheaper there than he can get even one month's supply in Cork. He takes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (5 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: In fairness, the price increase was 260% before the unemployment figures started to increase. It happened between 2000 and 2008. That was when the big jump occurred - before the unemployment figures and the number of medical cards started to increase. It appears that it was a case of who was prepared to sign the blank cheque. There seems to have been very little control by the HSE and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (5 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I asked a question about the margin between manufacturers and the prices set by the Health Service Executive. On the letter from Alexion, a company that was invited to attend this meeting-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (5 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: The letter states: "Given Alexion would be highly restricted in terms of what we could discuss with regard to pricing negotiations in Ireland as well as our global experience and position, we must respectfully and regretfully decline your invitation at this time." The company clearly does not wish to discuss pricing and the cost of the medication it provides. Is greater transparency needed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (5 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank all of the delegates for their presentations. Mr. O'Sullivan said Healthwave had been set up in 2013. The advantage in setting up then was he knew the market he was going after and he probably set it up cost effectively. I understand there are 1,700 pharmacies in the State, whereas there are only 350 in Denmark. Does he think pharmacies are facing a major challenge, given that a...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: A number of Senators have raised the issue of the difficulties many people are having in regard to housing. I refer to both mortgages and the rental sector. We need a fundamental change in this whole area and to have a debate on it. One of my proposals is that legislation should be introduced to prevent banks from using family homes as collateral for commercial loans. That is one area we...

Seanad: Ambulance Services in Dublin: Statements (10 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for making time available. It is important that we debate this issue and that we refer to the recommendations of the HIQA report and act on them. The recommendation set out that the National Ambulance Service and the Dublin Fire Brigade must both address the operational inefficiencies identified and publish a joint action plan outlining proposed steps to improve...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (10 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I apologise for not being here for the presentation. We had a debate in the Seanad on the ambulance service, which is used to bring people who have been drinking excessively to accident and emergency departments. The winners of the Young Scientist exhibition this year did a project on alcohol consumption that involved interviewing parents and young people. The connection between the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Disability Support Services (11 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. This issue follows on from an issue I raised four weeks about a family in the Cork city council area whose child has a physical and intellectual disability. While that family were advised in July 2008 by a city council official of work to be carried out to their home to accommodate their daughter this work has yet commenced. The issue I am raising today...