Results 1,641-1,660 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015: Order for Second Stage (14 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister and the Bill. In dealing with any aspect of children getting into difficulty, one of the concerns I have is whether, before they get into the court system, we have adequate procedures and supports in place for those coming to the notice of gardaí. It is an area in which I have worked in Cork for over 20 years, having been involved in facilities where a large...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Department of Health and Health Service Executive (14 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister and Mr. O'Brien for their presentations. I will touch on the Portlaoise report briefly. There are 19 maternity units around the country. Is information available on the perinatal mortality rate for all 19 units? It is important to reassure people. There are 19 units and there are people working who are concerned and it is important that the information is put out...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Department of Health and Health Service Executive (14 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I raise it because of all the coverage of Galway, Ballinasloe, Portlaoise and Cavan. It would be helpful if people had access to information that is reasonably positive about most units throughout the country. This is a problem about which patients and staff are concerned. The coverage is very negative, although there is some positive information from the units.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Department of Health and Health Service Executive (14 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I accept that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Department of Health and Health Service Executive (14 May 2015)

Colm Burke: People are experiencing problems in this regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIQA Investigation into Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise (Resumed): Parents and Patient Advocates (19 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Mark Molloy, Mrs. Roisín Molloy, Mr. Ollie Kelly, Ms Amy Delahunt and Ms Sheila O'Connor for their presentations. I know that matters have not been easy for our guests and that the past three and a half years have been tough. I hope the fact that they have managed to reach this point means that a great deal will be achieved in ensuring change. I wish to put a question to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIQA Investigation into Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise (Resumed): Parents and Patient Advocates (19 May 2015)

Colm Burke: With regard to the comparison in dealing with voluntary hospitals and the HSE, is there a difference?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIQA Investigation into Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise (Resumed): Parents and Patient Advocates (19 May 2015)

Colm Burke: On the point made by Mr. Kelly regarding the lack of sharing of information between hospitals in regard, in particular, to agency and locum staff who make a mistake in one hospital and then move on to another hospital with whom that information is not shared, it is an important that point is highlighted within the HSE.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIQA Investigation into Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise (Resumed): Health Service Executive (19 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses from the HSE for their presentations. I wish to touch on the perinatal mortality rate, an issue that was raised this morning. I tabled a commencement matter in the Seanad on 14 May on the need for the Minister for Health and the HSE to publish the 2014 perinatal mortality rates for each of the 19 maternity hospitals in view of the recent adverse media coverage on this...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Colm Burke: Can I remind Senator Leyden that it was his party that sold off 75% of Aer Lingus? He should not forget that, and-----

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Colm Burke: Moreover, it sold off the controlling interest in the airline, and the Senator should not forget that.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I will start by paying tribute to the late Bill O'Herlihy. Senator Eamonn Coghlan summed it up well, and the only thing the Senator left out was that he was from Cork. That was an important part of Bill O'Herlihy.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Colm Burke: In his major contribution to the media and to sport, he never forgot that he was from Cork and always retained that Cork accent that was very important in any presentations he made, no matter what it was, be it current affairs or sport. I pay tribute to the contribution he has made and sympathise with his family, as he will be greatly missed on his passing. On the equality referendum, like...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Colm Burke: It held the referendum on marriage equality.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for the work that he has done in this area. I compliment him on the way he has dealt with the media. He has conveyed a positive message on the new approach being taken to tackle this issue. We need a new approach to certain ways we have of dealing with the matter. Let us look at an interesting study produced by the European School...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Colm Burke: Yes. We need a change in legislation if we want to introduce it. Has the Government looked at alternatives to methadone? Quite a large number of people have been on methadone for more than ten years. An expert group was set up to assess the situation. The drug is called-----

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Colm Burke: Suboxone, yes. My apologies. An expert group recommended that Suboxone be introduced, but we need a change in legislation first.Amending legislation will be necessary to allow it to be used. There are advantages in using the product as opposed to methadone. It has been tested and there is a reduced risk of misuse, overdose and death. It is unlikely to be diverted as a street drug and it...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I am surprised by Senator O'Brien's comments about the private sector. Fianna Fáil relied very much on the private sector for donations over many years-----