Results 1,881-1,900 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: I join with colleagues in congratulating the Irish team and all the people involved in its performance in the championship. They did the country proud, as did the supporters in the way they behaved, in that they put forward a very positive message for Ireland. An issue that is coming up more and more in rural areas is that community groups and sporting organisations require people to work...

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for giving of his time today to debate this important matter. One of the views that has been expressed is that England did not plan for this decision, which may be a misreading of the facts. There has been some work done in the UK with regard to how it would manage this exit. I have in my possession a report from the House of Lords which was sent for printing on 28...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: I agree with Senator Landy on the number of items being raised during the Order of Business. It would be far more practical if we stuck to one item. I wish to mention an issue raised by the retailers' group RGDATA. This concerns the report from the Data Commissioner on the use of CCTV footage to prevent crime in retail units. Retailers have now been advised that they cannot share this...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and introducing the legislation. It is important that it be enacted at the earliest possible date. It is important also that we take account of the amendments tabled, but not in the sense of incorporating them in this legislation. Instead, they might be incorporated into a more comprehensive Bill, which I understand will be introduced...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: The Fine Gael group is supporting the Minister and will not support the amendments. It is important we debate the matter but that these things are taken into account in future legislation.

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: I also commend the Minister of State on her contribution, but I advise my colleagues that there is a legal aspect to the issue as well in terms of the interpretation the courts can give. The amendments tabled will cause problems in terms of taking action against any pusher if the amendments, as tabled, are adopted. I am coming purely from a legal perspective. If accepted, the amendments...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: Tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: I support my colleague Senator Tim Lombard in his call for the reorganisation of local authorities in the Cork area. I know he has served on Cork County Council, but I have served on Cork City Council. I believe there is a need for a comprehensive review of the areas covered by local authorities. There has been a debate on whether there should be just one local authority or whether we...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: I support the Minister of State in bringing forward the Bill and I believe the amendments will cause complications in the legal process in terms of prosecuting pushers. The Minister of State has taken advice and, as I understand it, the Government will not be accepting the amendments as they are drafted. In fairness, the Minister of State outlined yesterday that there is a proposal to...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2016)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for introducing the Bill, which is only a small part of what needs to be done in this area. All Senators who spoke made constructive contributions. The Senators who tabled amendments hold genuine beliefs, and their views must be taken on board, albeit not in this Bill. I agree with them that the issue they have raised must be addressed expeditiously and I hope...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2016)

Colm Burke: I support my colleagues with regard to councillors. There was a review of local government carried out in respect of the 2014 local elections. We reduced the number of councillors and expanded their jurisdictions but did not make the appropriate adjustments to allowances and expenses. In fairness to councillors, they are providing local leadership in their communities and they work...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Colm Burke: I want to raise the issue of the committee that was set up to carry out a review and prepare a document in regard to the ten-year health strategy. My understanding is it is proposed that there would be no Senators on this committee. I do not think we in this House should accept that decision and I would like clarification on the matter. There are Senators here who have medical experience,...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2016)

Colm Burke: I agree with what Senator Landy said. The regulation seems to be very difficult. I encountered a case in which a local authority deems that, because the social welfare income of two retired people on the old age pension is inadequate, they may not purchase their house with the support of family members. The decision is being made on the basis of income rather than family support. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2016)

Colm Burke: There should be clarification from the Minister on this at a very early date. Contrary to what has been said, as I understand it there is not a proposal before the Minister yet and he has not received the report. Therefore, until such time as he gets it, I do not think he can give us the answers we are looking for, but I believe that at the earliest possible date the Minister should provide...

Seanad: Public Procurement: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wish him well in his new role as Minister of State responsible for public procurement. In terms of public procurement, it is extremely important we do not have a set of regulations and rules that make it impossible for smaller SMEs to tender for a job, which has happened in some areas. Therefore, we need to look at the process again. I am...

Seanad: Public Procurement: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister and wish him well in the development of the new document on housing. Many of the items I wanted to mention have been raised already. I thank Senators John Dolan and Grace O'Sullivan and the Independent Senators for bringing forward this motion, which is very welcome and timely. As somebody who was a member of a local authority and who has been involved in a number of...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2016)

Colm Burke: I wish to discuss a matter of procedure with regard to the Commencement matters. This morning is the ninth morning in a row I have submitted a Commencement matter which was not accepted. That is over three weeks. I have had one Commencement matter accepted since this Seanad resumed. We need to examine the procedures here. Many people want to get the benefit of the Commencement...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2016)

Colm Burke: This is not a criticism of the Cathaoirleach in any way. I am just saying that if there is a large volume of Commencement Matter topics, procedure needs to be looked at in order that we can get ministerial replies in writing rather than having to wait around for a reply.