Results 4,661-4,680 of 11,570 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Will the legislation cover, for example, a scenario whereby someone decides to park a vehicle with all sorts of messages on it but the person responsible is not present in the vehicle?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Is the Department satisfied that the legislation would cover that scenario even if the person is not there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: One of the groups that made a submission stated that due to its broad scope and the extent to which it infringes the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly, in its view the Bill is a violation of Bunreacht na hÉireann and the European Convention on Human Rights, which both provide clear protections for those rights. The view of the group is that the Bill will most likely not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Yes, it is one I received. I am not sure whether it came in to the committee. This is what people are saying. I am asking if the witnesses are satisfied that all the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted in terms of dealing with this? I am concerned in particular about someone saying that it will be challenged before the Irish courts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I fully support the Bill, because it is extremely important that people are not in any way intimidated or confronted when they are attending any service, no matter what it is. I am fully in support of the Bill and I want to make sure that we are not exposed to any challenge on it. That is the reason I raise this matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: The other issue that I want to raise relates to the homes of medical practitioners and staff working in medical facilities. Are we satisfied that we have done enough? If we bring forward legislation which clearly prevents anyone from protesting or in any way intimidating anyone attending such a facility, the next available option is to go to the homes of medical practitioners but also staff...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: On this issue, the Irish Medical Organisation made a submission to us in which it referred to the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act. It defines harassment in the context of causing alarm, distress or harm. The IMO stated that the current Bill does not incorporate that definition and it is a bit concerned and seeks that the matter would be examined.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: So the concerns raised by the IMO may be taken on board in dealing with this piece of legislation as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I suppose the reason the IMO is concerned is that over a seven-year period there were more than 733 recorded assaults on medical practitioners, which is approximately 100 a year. That is extremely serious and it does not take into account the number of nursing staff and care assistants who have been assaulted in hospital services. The IMO is making sure that it is not just what is in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Is Ms Mason satisfied that we will have enough safeguards and protections in place to prevent the intimidation of staff and to make sure that they are safe in doing their job and going to and coming home from work?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I have covered all of the issues that I wanted to raise. In terms of the timescale of the Bill, do the witnesses think we can get it through by December? What timescale does the Department envisage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Let us say that we will come back very shortly with our report. What kind of time period will there be before the Department comes to a conclusion on what should be included or excluded? What kind of timeframe is the Department talking about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: 97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the process for contribution fee refunds in 2022; when students can expect a refund of their contribution fee in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51686/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: There was a welcome announcement on the refund of €1,000 to students. I want to ascertain when the process for the repayment of this €1,000 will commence? Will it occur over the next eight to ten weeks? The other issue is we saw the refund of moneys to people in the health sector delayed for quite a period. Is the structure established to make sure this can be dealt with in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: Has there been engagement with the third level institutions? Is it a case that the Department will have to provide the funding to those institutions to enable them to provide the refunds? When will that process commence?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I refer to the PhD students who will get the additional €500 as part of their stipend. When is that likely to be paid? Is provision made for that in 2022?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (18 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this important question and the Minister of State for his response. We need to consider this issue. People are dropping out of the education system and finding it difficult to get back into training. We need to do much more for them. One of the frightening figures over the past week was that 12% of households of people aged 20 to 64 years did not have an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank my colleague for raising this issue and I thank the Minister for the reply. Regarding wind turbines at sea, in view of the fact we do not have a huge amount of expertise in that area to date, I ask whether part of that funding would allow companies to have people work overseas for a period in order to get experience or necessary training. A number of other countries are well ahead...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Oct 2022)

Colm Burke: 106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department plans to introduce additional funding for apprentices to support them to continue in their apprenticeships in view of the increase in the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51687/22]