Results 321-340 of 11,236 for speaker:Colm Burke
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: The issue of dual diagnosis of mental health issues and drug addiction issues is one area where there is a challenge. We need to fast-track it. While some people in mental health services might say this is a drug addiction issue and nothing to do with them, drug addiction services might then say this is a mental health issue and they are getting no support. It is important that we have a...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: Housing bodies such as Depaul, whose representatives I have met, are doing a lot of work on that. People have come through rehabilitation and the bodies have provided housing for them. I was in Usher's Island in the past two weeks, where the Simon Community has opened a brand new facility. It has 100 separate rooms with en suite bathroom facilities. When I was there, 51 people were moving...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: Visiting the centres throughout the country certainly has helped me because every place you go you learn something new. You learn about the challenges they are facing and the new changes that have occurred as regards drug use. It is one of the things that is well worth doing. In fairness to the Department officials, they have a direct link not only in getting in information but also in...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: Thank you.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: The Merchants Quay project, the target date for which is 15 September, and the Usher's Island project for the Simon Community in Dublin are two very good projects. There are also the day facilities. In fairness to the HSE and Cork City Council, my Department had a meeting with them and the Department of housing. Everyone was working together to try to get that project to the next stage....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: If I may, it is important that I thank you as well, but also the staff of the committee, who have worked very hard in making sure all the people the committee needs to bring in for its meetings are brought in. It is not an easy thing to do at times. I thank the staff for all their work over the years I was on the committee. I was on the committee from 2011 before I became a Minister of...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Assisted Human Reproduction (5 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I know she is very passionate about it and, in fact, has been instrumental in getting the changes about which she spoke. Unfortunately, the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, is unavailable to take this Commencement matter and has asked me to take it on his behalf. I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to inform the House of the up-to-date...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Assisted Human Reproduction (5 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: I understand where the Senator is coming from. She has done a huge amount of work over a long number of years on this issue, which is important. It is also important that we cross all the t's and dot all the i's to make sure that there is no constitutional challenge. We are talking about retrospective orders, which are always a challenge in relation to anything that is done in the whole...
- Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (5 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: 327. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an application by a business for the increased cost of business grant scheme could be amended and recategorised (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44281/24]
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (5 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: Encouraging mothers to breastfeed is a priority, both for the Department of Health and for the HSE National health policy. The Healthy Ireland Framework, Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy, emphasise the importance of supporting mothers to breastfeed, as well as taking action to increase...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (5 Nov 2024)
Colm Burke: Encouraging mothers to breastfeed is a priority, both for the Department of Health and for the HSE National health policy. The Healthy Ireland Framework, Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy, emphasise the importance of supporting mothers to breastfeed, as well as taking action to increase...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (24 Oct 2024)
Colm Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 346 together. The free contraception scheme was launched in September 2022, initially for those aged 17-25. It has been gradually expanded and now includes women aged 17-35 from July 1st, 2024. Approximately 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies have signed up to provide services and products under the scheme to date. The scheme is open to women, girls...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (24 Oct 2024)
Colm Burke: The free contraception scheme was launched in September 2022, initially for those aged 17-25. It has been gradually expanded and now includes women aged 17-35 from July 1st, 2024. Approximately 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies have signed up to provide services and products under the scheme to date. The scheme is open to women, girls and other people identifying as transgender or...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Oct 2024)
Colm Burke: There are 422 treatment centres around the country dealing with drug and alcohol addiction. Last year, over 13,000 people received treatment for drug addiction and 8,000 people received treatment for alcohol addiction. Additional funding has been allocated for this year. The case of Tabor Lodge only came to my attention in May 2024. I understand that the capital funding it requires will...
- Public Health Service Staffing: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2024)
Colm Burke: I thank all the speakers today for contributing their views on this matter. I reiterate what the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, said in respect of the value we place on all the staff working in our health service. These are the people working tirelessly daily to provide care to those most in need right across the country. The Members here went through each of the hospitals in their own local...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products (23 Oct 2024)
Colm Burke: More than 2,000 people participated in overdose awareness and naloxone administration training in 2023. The work is ongoing in relation to having more people trained in its administration. Regarding availability, more than 6,000 units were given out last year, with 4,000 units distributed by July of this year. It is available where we believe there is a need for it. The international...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products (23 Oct 2024)
Colm Burke: I thank the Deputy and welcome the opportunity to inform the House on the current position relating to naloxone. A strategic priority in the national drugs strategy is to develop integrated care pathways and harm reduction responses for high-risk drug users, including people who are homeless, offenders, stimulant users, and injecting drug-users, in order to achieve better health outcomes and...
- Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (23 Oct 2024)
Colm Burke: 68. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will give due consideration to removing VAT on the sale of wigs, currently charged at 23%, to those with medical conditions, such as cancer or alopecia sufferers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43331/24]
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (23 Oct 2024)
Colm Burke: The free contraception scheme was launched in September 2022, initially for those aged 17-25. It has been gradually expanded and now includes women aged 17-35 from July 1st, 2024. Approximately 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies have signed up to provide services and products under the scheme to date. The scheme is open to women, girls and other people identifying as transgender or non-binary,...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (22 Oct 2024)
Colm Burke: 441. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration could be given to the introduction of a grant that covers the safe removal and disposal of asbestos from houses in view that the cost of renovating properties with asbestos leads to these houses remaining derelict and or creates unsuitable living conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter....