Results 5,061-5,080 of 11,570 for speaker:Colm Burke

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank everyone who took part in the debate this morning.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: Yes. With regard to bringing in people, there is a huge variation in disability services. It is a case of identifying at least two where there is variation regarding mental health. We had a problem in the Cork–Kerry region, which is a huge challenge now. It is a matter of bringing in representatives of another area where mental health services seem to be working far better. It is...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: I am a bit concerned about the 14 July meeting. I am concerned that, because there is an inquiry ongoing, people who come in will start using it as a mechanism not to give us answers on a number of issues. That is one of the problems we will have on 14 July. We need to make sure we can get the information we require, even if there is an inquiry going on. The second issue relates to the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: No, that is not true.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: I know of some of those judicial reviews-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: -----where they were used as a delaying process by competitors of the people who were trying to get planning.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: I agree with Deputy Murphy about the lack of an appeal process. I fully accept that judicial review is the only option available for people where the initial application is made to An Bord Pleanála and not a local authority. I am talking about cases that have gone through a local authority and An Bord Pleanála before ending up in a judicial review.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: I know the issue of passports is very important and that people have covered it. I want to deal with overseas funding. Our funding for overseas development from 2015 to 2020 went from €475 million to €548 million. I ask about checks and balances in place for that enormous funding. Priority emergency humanitarian assistance was €96 million in 2020. What are the checks...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: Regarding that allocation and getting value for money, I have seen projects in a number of countries and there are significant differences. For instance, over 4,000 children were in schools and being provided with a meal every day. I saw a comparable project in the same area where a small number of children were being looked after for the same cost. What mechanism do we have to adjudicate...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: We have not actually seen any results. For instance, if Irish Aid decided to provide €10 million in funding for a particular country or area, we do not see how that money was used in real terms or what the end of that project was. Whether it was trying to assist with a food or an educational programme, none of that information is fed back to us. How is the selection of the NGO...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: Yes, it was.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: Can that annual report be made available to us because I am not sure if we have received that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: Have any specific difficulties arisen with projects in the last five years? Were they identified when the reviews were carried out? A number of years ago we had a problem with a particular organisation. On any occasion in the past five years has Irish Aid had concerns about projects where Irish funding was provided?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: It is a huge amount of money.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: The international proposal was that we would provide 0.7% of gross national income on development aid. I believe we are at 0.3%.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: Do we need to do more work on that issue? Mr. de Búrca seems to be happy with the projects being delivered and getting value. What is the Department's approach to try to get additional funding for projects where it sees major progress being made?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: That is being reviewed constantly, I imagine.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: Is Mr. de Búrca satisfied we have sufficient structures in place?

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (29 Jun 2022)

Colm Burke: 43. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the results of the focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines relating to minimum setback distance for wind turbines from homes and residential areas will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34696/22]