Results 1,561-1,580 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: Was there anything to prevent any of the agencies from entering into a legal agreement before 2013?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: Does that mean that they were not in breach of any regulation if they did sign a legal agreement prior to the circular of 2013?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: At the same time, however, there was no regulation in place preventing agencies from entering into a higher level of pay with individuals to whom they were giving a contract?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: There was nothing to prevent them from entering into such contracts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: The reason I am asking this question is that I know of a case in which a person moved from a HSE job to a position in the voluntary hospital sector and it was widely rumoured at the time - this was eight or ten years ago - that there was a huge difference in salary scales, even though the funding for the voluntary hospital was provided through the HSE. There did not appear to be restrictions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: There was guidance but no regulation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: Mr. Tegerdine said recommendations Nos. 20 and 21 had been sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Does he believe the delay on the part of that Department in dealing with the issue will cause problems within the section 38 organisations or within the HSE? Is there a need for that Department to be put under pressure to make a decision on this matter?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Community Care (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh. The matter before the House this morning relates to the need for community intervention teams in each area. The reason I raise the issue on the Commencement debate is the need for the health service to reduce the number of people admitted to hospital, particularly from nursing homes. I understand Nursing Homes Ireland has had detailed...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Community Care (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply, which I welcome. Approximately 14,000 patients were treated by community intervention teams in 2014. That is a very small number in comparison to the number that could be treated. I know the area does not come within the responsibility of the Minister of State, but could he convey to the relevant Minister the need to expedite the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I, too, welcome the announcement yesterday by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, on children with Down's syndrome. It is something that is long overdue. It is a matter on which the association has canvassed and lobbied over a number of years. It is money that will be well spent in catering for those children. In the context of children, I am somewhat concerned...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: That is something which must be expedited and addressed.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: We cannot ignore the HIQA report. I would welcome a statement from the Minister in that regard and to ensure that a timeline is put in place for when the recruitment will be completed in order that the existing 1,000 referrals can be addressed. In fairness to Tusla, it has outlined that priority cases are being addressed, in the sense that the children most at risk are dealt with...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: The failures happened when the Senator's party was in office.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: From 2002 to 2010, Fianna Fáil did nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: If the report is true he does not want to hear it.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister and thank her for a very comprehensive overview on this amendment of the Constitution. No constitution is written in stone and it is important that we start from there. This is the 34th amendment of the Constitution. There has been a very small number of amendments when one thinks of the lifetime of this Constitution. As my colleague, Senator Byrne, said, society...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Drug Addiction and Recovery Models: Discussion (26 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I apologise for not being present for the entire briefing. I had to deal with a matter in the Seanad. The delegates have much experience in the dos and don'ts based on what has happened during the years in Dublin. In Cork there has been a major increase in heroin use. What should we do, or not do, in areas outside Dublin, particularly in Cork, to deal with the issue, given the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank each of the delegates for their comprehensive and constructive presentations. Has the Department given a logical reason as to why it will not implement section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008? If the terms of section 9 were to be implemented, what period would be envisaged to allow outlets carry out the necessary changes? Would it be proposed to allow them three, six or 12...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: With respect to the claims of decreasing levels of alcohol consumption, in the case of young people, the level has gone up, particularly of spirits. I have seen this in colleges, in particular. In the first eight weeks after colleges return after the summer, there is a major increase in the drinking culture, particularly in the case of first-year students. There has been a switch to...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise the issue of how in real terms, very little reform has occurred in the health service. One subject I raised during a Commencement matter this week was the issue of nurse prescribing, particularly in nursing homes. There still is a huge problem, in that nurses have the qualification and are competent to take on many of the roles on which the sign-off of a doctor previously...