Results 2,901-2,920 of 11,702 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Abuse (4 Jul 2023)

Colm Burke: 487. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm what action his Department will take following reports that teenage girls in the care of the State are being targeted and sexually exploited by co-ordinated gangs of predatory men, according to a new study (details supplied) which calls for an immediate investigation into the problem; and if he will...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: At any one time, there are more than 500 people in our hospitals who could be discharged. What level of engagement has taken place with the private nursing home sector with a view to expediting the discharge of people from hospitals to free up hospital beds? What further engagement has occurred as regards reconciling the difference between what is paid for a public nursing home bed and a...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for coming before us this morning. I fully understand where they are coming from in relation to the decision that has arisen over the last 48 hours and I fully accept that the matter needs to be dealt with before the IHRB representatives can openly discuss it. I fully understand their position on that. If I may return to the issue with the former CEO and why there...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: I know but what I am saying is there was legislation in 2016 which dealt with the whole formation, the setting up of this body etc. Surely legal advice was also obtained by the board that such a clause did not have any legal standing? Or else there was a situation where incorrect advice was given. I am wondering was it the case that proper legal advice was not furnished?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: I know it was a large firm but I am asking about that advice where the agreement was being drafted and there was going to be a non-disclosure clause. Surely there was an obligation on that large firm; in fairness to people on the board, the people employed are not legal experts, so surely the legal advice would also have noted that this clause was technically not enforceable?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: The point I am making is that regardless of whether the board got advice from their legal people, at the end of the day this document will end up being disclosed because of existing legislation.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: I am asking whether they were made aware of it. That is the question I have asked. This is why one pays lawyers and this is why they have an obligation to disclose this. When legal advisers are being used, all advice must be furnished, regardless of what the board wants or does not want. It must be legally advised what it can and cannot do.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: Can I move on to the €385,000-----

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: I am not questioning about the board. My question is about the legal advice the board got. Basically, because the IHRB is covered under legislation, the issue was that this document was going to end up being disclosed anyway at the end of the day.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: On the €385,000 paid, did that include tax and social protection payments?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: It was a gross figure. In other words, that was the full amount that was paid out.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: Yes, because he would have had to make the tax returns on it. I wish to move on to another issue. Will Mr. O'Loughlin explain why there has been such an increase in expenditure for the forensic equine unit?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: Okay. Are there more people now employed in that area by the IHRB?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: Does the IHRB feel that it needs to employ more people in this particular area? Mr. O'Loughlin has talked about the increased level of race meetings and so on. Is there a plan to increase further the number of people working in this area for the IHRB?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: With regard to the stables inspected, on average what would that be? Is one in ten stables inspected every year or is it one in 20? What kind of inspection level is currently in place?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: That was in 2021. Was that increased in 2022 or was it at the same rate?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: With random inspections, does the IHRB come into a stable without any warning? Does the inspector just arrive in and carry out the inspection? Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: On the work to date with regard to inspections, Mr. McLoughlin spoke about 140 stables out of 700 stables. Has there been any change? Has it been identified that illegal substances were used? What is the position in relation to the 140 stables that were inspected in 2021?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: Of the 1,000 samples that were taken, what number were identified as being not in order?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (29 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: Was that for 12 different stables or were they samples taken from one or two stables?