Results 281-300 of 12,151 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: 120. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress made on removing the means test for carer's allowance; whether a timeline will be outlined for the removal of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50506/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (25 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: 147. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to consider removing the means test for fuel allowance for those over 70 and in receipt of qualifying payments and meeting all other necessary criteria; the cost that would be involved in implementing such a change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50507/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regional Development (25 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: 247. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the progress of the Destination and Experience Development Plan in Cork, in particular, in encouraging domestic tourism in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34924/25]

Use of Vapes and Nicotine Products by Young People and Adolescents: Statements (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: It is amazing how the market changes. One issue that is now on the market is high puff count vaping devices. They have exploded onto the Irish market in a short period. They are known as carousel or click-on vape devices, but they are commonly known as “big puff”. While they do not breach existing laws because their tanks contain 2 ml of vape liquid, big puff disposable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Both presentations are critical of Europe and of Ireland. There was no reference in any one of the witnesses' statements to Israel, Russia or America, which are contributing to the conflicts. Is that not-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: But the whole focus seems to be criticism of Europe, whereas, for instance, one of the things the European Union has done over the last 40 years is that we have come from a conflict situation in the Second World War to where now 460 million people live in peace. The question is whether that is at risk now, and I do not think the presentations dealt with that issue. I will go on to deal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I know but I am giving an example where if there were a decision in the morning by the European Union to send in troops to Ukraine, and if there were a cessation of hostilities, the likelihood is that Russia would not allow the UN to deploy troops. Is that not the correct position? Therefore, under the triple lock system, because we would not have a UN mandate, we would not be able to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: There was a criticism of the triple lock system. I am just giving the example where we could be of assistance in keeping peace but we would be prevented from doing so by Russia.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I ask Ms Ní Bhriain to deal with the example I gave.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: No, but it was raised and the triple lock system is an issue that Ireland should not move away from.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: But-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: -----the argument I am making is that there is now a flaw in the whole UN process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: There is a flaw in the whole UN process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: We are now in the real world. All I am saying is that it is quite clear that the United Nations does not have a mandate in many areas because of the power that Russia, China and America have. That has neutralised the impact of the UN from the point of view of peacekeeping. That is the point I am making.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I will move on to what the witnesses said about what has occurred in Europe. For the past 25 or 30 years, the threat of Russia was not there. A huge change has occurred, and Europe must respond accordingly. The problem is that if we wait around, it is obvious from what America is now saying that it is not prepared to help Europe at any time in the future. AS a result, Europe needs to deal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I know, but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: I was in Gaza in 2009 when Israel bombed a whole lot of areas there, killing 1,400 people, including 400 children. I visited four weeks after that bombing took place. They used the changeover period between American Presidents, from 27 December 2008 until 18 January 2009, to go in, carry out that bombing and kill innocent people. That was 15 years ago. If action was taken by the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: There is, because of the fact that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: No protection was provided to Gaza after 2009 to ensure there would be no repeat of what occurred.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: EU Legislative Proposals: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Colm Burke: Is Ms Ní Bhriain saying-----