Results 721-740 of 11,417 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Programme (25 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” published in June 2020 contained a commitment to “Work with key stakeholders to introduce a Public Health Obesity Act, including examining restrictions on promotion and advertising aimed at children”. The policy instrument for obesity in Ireland is 'A Healthy Weight for Ireland,’ the Obesity Policy and Action...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections (25 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 to 396, inclusive, together. Sexual health is a priority for this Government. The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020, (NSHS), was launched in October 2015 and is implemented by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP). The NSHS aims to support sexual health and wellbeing across the lifecourse. Following stakeholder...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (25 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, ' Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery'. Action 50 of the strategy commits to ensuring that Task Forces have proper arrangements in place for the selection and renewal of the Chairperson, Members of Task Forces and for having proper procedures in place for addressing conflicts of interest. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections (25 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 to 416, inclusive, together. Sexual health is a priority for this Government. The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020, (NSHS), was launched in October 2015 and is implemented by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP). The NSHS aims to support sexual health and wellbeing across the lifecourse. Following stakeholder...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections (25 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 417 to 420, inclusive, together. Sexual health is a priority for this Government. The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020, (NSHS), was launched in October 2015 and is implemented by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP). The NSHS aims to support sexual health and wellbeing across the lifecourse. Following stakeholder...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (25 Jun 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: Sexually Transmitted Infections (25 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 to 448, inclusive, together. Sexual health is a priority for this Government. The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020, (NSHS), was launched in October 2015 and is implemented by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP). The NSHS aims to support sexual health and wellbeing across the lifecourse. Following stakeholder...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: 121. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action her Department is taking to assist a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26607/24]

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for children. I thank Senator Currie for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond. Ensuring access to high-quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority for the Government. Various data sources provide evidence that the supply of early learning and childcare is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Senator and I fully agree with her. As we now have full employment, there is competition when it comes to retaining staff. As I stated, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has recently established a new supply management unit in his Department to undertake more detailed analysis of supply and demand. That is an extremely important development. His role is to develop a planning...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Patronage (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I should outline that I am here on behalf of the Minister for Education. The Department of Education does not come under my remit but I have a very detailed statement, which runs to ten pages. I do not think I will have time to deliver all of it. Before addressing the specific matter raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Patronage (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I will certainly take on board what the Senator has set out. As I said, a review has been published that sets out clearly the reform that is going to be implemented and the target of 100,000 additional students benefiting between now and 2030. In other words, the current capacity allows for over 161,000 children to travel on school transport. We are talking about adding another 100,000 on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Examinations (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Cathaoirleach. With all of us Members present from Cork, I wonder if we could have a Seanad sitting in Cork. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am here on behalf of the Minister for Education so the reply received is from the Department of Education. I thank the Senator for the opportunity to update the House on this matter. The State Examinations...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Examinations (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Senator. The SEC at this time is finalising the terms of reference and the composition of the structures that will underpin the review. The review will consider all relevant issues and will take account of the best practice internationally. This, therefore, is a comprehensive review. In this regard, I am assured that the SEC intends that there will be...

Seanad: National Cancer Services: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank Senators Kyne and Conway for bringing forward this motion. Twelve Senators contributed to the debate and I thank each and every one of them for detailing their concerns and setting out how we need to roll out and improve our current cancer care plan. I will touch on some of the points raised because it is important that I deal with them as they arose. I may not be able to get...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I have been asked to take this Topical Issue by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. She apologises that she could not be here this morning. Funding for mental health increased to more than €1.3 billion in 2024. This is the fourth consecutive year of an increase for mental health services and highlights the importance this Government places on the mental health of those living in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: Again, I am stepping in for the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I do not think anyone is sticking their head in the sand. As I outlined, there was a 33% increase in demand for services and a 21% increase in the number of new cases. That is a substantial increase. The Deputy said people had their heads in the sand. The number of people working in this area has increased substantially in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Pathology Service (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: It is important that we distinguish between suspicious and non-suspicious deaths. The former come under the State pathologist's remit. I have outlined that there are four in Dublin and one in Cork. Where there is a suspicious death, they become involved. In other cases of non-suspicious deaths, that matter is dealt with in the hospital and within the hospital area.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Pathology Service (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I have set that out but I think it is important that we get the message across that post-mortems are dealt with in two distinct ways. Post-mortem examinations in non-suspicious deaths under the remit of the coroner are directed to be performed by hospital-based histopathology consultants.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Pathology Service (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I did not interrupt the Deputy.