Results 21-40 of 10,793 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: 274. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who submitted an appeal on 15 November 2023 with regard to benefit payment for 65-year-olds has not yet received a decision on the matter, when a decision is likely to be reached in this case; the reason for the delay;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30750/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (11 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (11 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: The Department of Health receives pre-budget submissions from a number of organisations providing health and or personal social services every year. I can confirm that a pre-budget submission has been submitted by the organisation detailed in this question and has been noted.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (11 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: My understanding at present is that more than 13,000 people are receiving treatment for drug addiction. That has increased by more than 1,000 in the past 12 months alone, so there is a major challenge there and there will have to be a joined up approach. As the Deputy knows, the Committee on Drugs Use is dealing with the citizens' assembly report. My Department will have to wait until the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Chair. I served a 13-year apprenticeship at this committee and am delighted to be back here as Minister of State. The members will have heard from my predecessor, Deputy Naughton, in February on the commercial determinants of health. I very much welcome the opportunity to speak to members today about a related matter of great importance: childhood obesity. I am delighted...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: In the context of the whole issue of education, we must also look at the available food items. One of the things we have really focused on is food reformulation, which is an extremely important aspect. We set up the food reformulation task force in 2021. Basically, it is about reducing sugar content by 20% and saturated fat and salt content by 10% within the industry. No matter how much...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: The task force is doing a lot of work with industry, but industry is not out in public saying they have reduced sugar or salt levels. They are not talking about it out there, but they have worked closely with the task force. Some of them are good and are interested in taking on the work the task force is doing. I referred to how obesity and overweight are at a higher level in the lower...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: We have been working on the whole area of advertising of unhealthy foods. For instance, there is a children's commercial communications code. This is a statutory broadcasting code issued by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland pursuant to section 42 of the Broadcasting Act. The establishment of Coimisiún na Meán under the online safety and media regulations provides for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: There has been some work done on that but the view at this stage is that we have done a lot of work on getting people on board on a voluntary basis and on the whole area of content of food. I spoke earlier about working with manufacturers to reduce saturated fat, salt and sugar content.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: The issue in relation to legislation is ongoing. The Department is still working with the various interest groups. There has been progress made in relation to reducing those elements in food. I gave the information already about how the amount of tax coming in has come down because we have achieved some goals.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: We have also had an increase in population over the last ten or 15 years. The number of people with obesity or who are overweight has remained static. Now the work is to adjust-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: My understanding is that the work is ongoing on the issue of introducing legislation to deal with that area. There is not a draft Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: I will have to come back to the Deputy with further information as to what stage it is at. My understanding is that there is not a draft Bill prepared at this stage. We have been trying to work with industry and across a range of Departments on this. Achievements have been made in this area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: There are numerous programmes involved where we do not need legislation. They have been implemented. We have worked on that. We have worked around issues in relation to advertising of unhealthy foods aimed at children. We are also working at EU level-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: There are a lot of areas where work has been done where we do not need legislation. It is not all about legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: In fairness, progress has been made in a whole range of areas in relation to dealing with this challenge. For instance, the Department of Social Protection school meals programme did not need legislation. Likewise, the contracts entered into between the schools and the suppliers do not require legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: Its remit comes under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. Therefore, it will work with the Department-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: Coimisiún na Meán will regulate food advertising.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Colm Burke: Yes.