Results 1,601-1,620 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive presentation. I will focus on one or two points. A recent publication by Dr. Orla Crosbie of Cork University Hospital addressed liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver and how the situation had changed in the past 20 years. Approximately 40% of patients in these categories now are female whereas there would have been few or no female patients 20...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I ask about the timeframe. The Minister has said that section 9 of the 2008 Act cannot be implemented. My understanding is that section 9 is quite specific and that the Act contains provisions whereby if there is any breach of the legislation, fines can be imposed. I do not understand why it cannot be implemented. It may be looking for too much from retail outlets. However, if we get the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Alcohol Consumption: BT Young Scientist Winners (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Ian and Eimear for their presentation this morning. When I proposed to the committee that it invite them after they won the Young Scientist of the Year Award I did not think it would be on the same day that the Minister came here. They can see how significant their research is for framing policy. This shows the influence their work can have. It deserves the recognition it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Alcohol Consumption: BT Young Scientist Winners (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: Did an awareness of the risks arise at all in the survey? Were people aware of the health risks and was that seen as an issue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Alcohol Consumption: BT Young Scientist Winners (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: Was there any indication at all of awareness of risk?

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome today's spring statement by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. Last week, representatives from Comhairle na nÓg and Young Social Innovators visited the Houses and the students who won the Young Scientist of the Year award for 2015 made a presentation to the Joint Committee on Health and Children. These...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: We had a difficult financial position, which we have stabilised. We are now moving on to plan for the future and that is what the statement is about.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: An earlier speaker called for the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coffey, to come to the House. It is important that we have a debate on the moneys allocated to local authorities for the house building programme. For example, more than €204 million has been allocated for Cork, money which is to be spent over a three year...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: May I move that we extend the sitting by ten minutes? This debate started 20 minutes late and it is not unreasonable to ask, but I am in the Acting Chairman's hands.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: It is an important issue and the debate was delayed by ten minutes.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: It is only taking ten minutes off the two hours of the other debate.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I move that we continue the debate for an extra ten minutes.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: In fairness to Senator Byrne, I only intend to speak for two to three minutes, so I do not think-----

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: If Opposition Members thought this issue was so important, they would not now be opposing a ten-minute extension.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Migration Policy and Current Situation in Mediterranean Sea: Discussion (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank our guests for their attendance and for their presentations. I apologise that I had to leave the meeting as a vote was called in the Seanad. Mr. Brian Killoran referred to the lack of a coherent EU immigration policy. I refer to my experience of having served in the European Parliament and on its foreign affairs committee and human rights sub-committee. Would he agree that there...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (30 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. My question concerns the public perception of the fair deal scheme, which was set up in 2009. The structure was that people would pay 80% of their pension or income and 5% of their assets for a maximum of three years. That was subsequently raised to 7.5% of assets. The scheme has been operating for over seven years and this year will cost around...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (30 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for the information. Given that during the past four years we have paid approximately €3.8 billion in the fair deal scheme and that we are now discussing a refund of €23 million, it is less than 0.5% of the overall expenditure. Regarding the 80% of people's pension that is being collected, we have never received any information from the HSE about what it...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: There are quite a number of vacant consultant posts in Irish hospitals. Negotiations were held and a new pay structure was put in place for new entrants. An entrant can come in at between one and nine on the pay structure but there is a stand off between the HSE and Irish Medical Organisation about how that will be adjudicated on regarding the pay scale that applies to an applicant. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I am raising it because it is important that this information is available. The total sum raised is €23.8 million out of €5.4 billion. It is important this information is in the public domain and that the proper perception is out there rather than the one people seem to be putting out.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (6 May 2015)

Colm Burke: It is a totally different question.