Results 4,141-4,160 of 11,187 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: Has An Garda Síochána thought out a solution to it? I am looking at it from a defence solicitor's point of view. An argument could be made as to whether a person was 90 m or 100 m from the entrance. How can that be defined clearly? Who measures that? In the case the 50 km/h speed limit, it is clearly marked where the zone starts and finishes. I am wondering whether An Garda...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: It is really challenging since it is very easy to say something is 100 m from a point. There will always be a sign indicating where the hospital is. Is it not very easy to design a sign that clearly indicates an area is within the precincts of the hospital and therefore people are not entitled to protest beyond that point? I can see huge problems for An Garda Síochána in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: Have there been any discussions between the Department and An Garda Síochána on this issue? An Garda Síochána obviously has concerns about it. The last thing we need, in situations where An Garda Síochána feels there has been a clear breach of the regulations, is a long drawn out process to determine whether that is the case. Then we are in the whole area of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: Has the Department responded?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: Does Dr. McNamara believe that we, as a committee, should make sure we clearly outline our concerns in the report on this proposal?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: I want to go back to an issue that was raised by Deputy Bríd Smith in respect of polling stations. I accept her point that everyone realises there is a clear rule in place. Over the past two or three general elections or local elections, I did not hear of a huge number of incidents where An Garda Síochána had to take action. I am not sure what the view of the witnesses is on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: Moving on to the issue of private property, with particular reference to the dwelling of a medical practitioner, does An Garda Síochána have any concerns about safe protests outside a dwelling house in that respect? For example, a group may decide that because it cannot protest outside a hospital, it will protest outside the property of a medical practitioner working in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: Does Ms McMahon believe it is an area that we should be examining?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: No. I am raising this matter because it is difficult for the Garda to intervene if it is uncomfortable about whether there is adequate legislation to deal with an issue. Would the Garda feel safer if there was appropriate legislation in place that gave the Garda a clear understanding of where the boundaries were when dealing with particular issues?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: There is already extensive legislation in place, for example, the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997. If the Garda feels that it cannot use this Bill to deal with an issue, is Ms McMahon satisfied that the current legislation gives it the security to deal with difficult protests? The Garda has wide powers under the 1997 Act, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: If there was a scenario where the Garda felt it was not able to use the new legislation, is Ms McMahon satisfied that the current legislation provides some security to deal with an issue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank Ms McMahon.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Amalgamation (8 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for her reply. When an amalgamation is going ahead it is about whether the Department makes sure that all the boxes are ticked especially in respect of consultation. I am concerned that there does not seem to be a process within the Department making sure that all the boxes are ticked particularly in regard to consultation. As I said at the start I received a letter...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Amalgamation (8 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: My colleague, Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan, has set out the matter clearly. It appears there has been very poor communication with the parents of the pupils of St. Vincent's Secondary School, particularly the parents of children with additional needs. There is a very good educational structure in place in the school for 24 pupils with special needs. It takes a bit of time for children...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (8 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: 81. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration will be given to extending the quota for employment permit applications for the role of dairy farm assistant, in view of the fact that dairy farmers are having difficulty in recruiting employees, and taking into consideration that employment permit applications for this role have been returned since the quota was...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (8 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: 82. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employment permit applications for the role of dairy farm assistant that have been returned, in view that the 100 general employment permits established under this quota for dairy farm assistants have now been granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54604/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority (8 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: 240. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the budget provided to the National Transport Authority in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55550/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority (8 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: 241. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of whole-time equivalent positions in the National Transport Authority in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55551/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: 707. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to increasing the allowances available under the household benefits package to assist those who cannot qualify for fuel allowance due to the cost-of-living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55270/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Nov 2022)

Colm Burke: 708. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost-of-living measures available to those living in congregated settings, in which all are over 70 years, to assist them with their energy bills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55271/22]