Results 8,161-8,180 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Colm Burke: I agree with Senators Craughwell and McFadden on the failure to deal with the pay issue in the Defence Forces, which has dragged on for a long time.There are people in the Defence Forces who are extremely committed to working in and remaining in the Defence Forces but they are not getting the support they require. This review has been long-fingered and we have been waiting for its...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Colm Burke: There are 100,000 more people in employment. Therefore, there is more income coming in.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jun 2019)

Colm Burke: The Scally report released yesterday identified the fact that where there were contracts with laboratories the work had been sub-contracted. This morning I raised queries at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health about whether there was a provision in the contracts that allowed it to be sub-contracted. I raise an extremely concerning issue about women under 25 years of age who do not come...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Refurbishment (11 Jun 2019)

Colm Burke: In the context of the pressing problems arising as a result of climate change, this matter relates to giving leadership within local communities. We need to get the message across that we all can contribute to reversing the damage caused by the burning of fossil fuels, etc. We can do so by retrofitting primary schools and installing solar panels in order that they can produce electricity,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Refurbishment (11 Jun 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. He referred to the past 17 years in the context of this programme. Should we not take a more aggressive approach to school renewal projects by using all available resources in order to ensure that there is energy saving, that value for money is secured and that oil and other fossil fuels will not be burned unnecessarily in order to...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Motion (29 May 2019)

Colm Burke: That is not true.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Motion (29 May 2019)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This morning, the Oireachtas heath committee met representatives of the Mental Health Commission and of a group campaigning for mental health reform. Presentations were made to the committee and many interesting issues arose at that meeting. I raised a number of issues myself about which I am concerned but it is important to recognise the...

Seanad: Message from Joint Committee (29 May 2019)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2019)

Colm Burke: I join colleagues in congratulating those who were elected in the local elections. I wish them well for the next five years. It is important that we thank those who retired at the election, some who served only one term and others who served many terms. Many of them made a contribution over a long number of years and contributed not only to the local council but also to their local...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Colm Burke: Now.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Network (16 May 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State. My issue is that, as the Minister of State is aware, there is a long-standing proposal to build the new Cork to Limerick motorway. It is back on the books and a new contract was signed recently to start the initial process of identifying the route and delivering a motorway between Cork and Limerick, or as people in Limerick would say, the Limerick to Cork...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Network (16 May 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for her contribution. It concerns the one area where road infrastructure needs to be built. The reason I suggest the eastern section should be done first is the western section is complicated because of the landscape. If there is a decision to work on all parts of the north ring road together, one will keep hearing the project is expensive and that the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2019)

Colm Burke: My colleague on the opposite side of the House raised the issue of housing. The Central Statistics Office, CSO, has released figures today for house and apartment completions in the first quarter of 2019. The total number is 4,275.This is very welcome news. It shows that every effort is being made by the Government to encourage the building of new houses and apartments, as well as making...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the House for its support for a Private Members' Bill that has passed through the Seanad and is now going through the Dáil. The Cabinet approved a money message for the Bill in question yesterday. This means the Bill can go through the Dáil and be enacted. We hope this will happen by July of this year. The Bill is important for the families of missing persons. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2019)

Colm Burke: I am reading with concern about the appointments that may be made in the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, and about how some influence might be brought to bear by what are perceived to be Government agencies, if not by the Government itself. It is important that every organisation in the country maintain its independence. I am not saying there is interference, but I understand some...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 May 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for the work that he is doing. Dealing with the housing market is a major challenge. The big change that we have seen is the increase in employment. We have many more people coming into the country than ever before. Instead of leaving the country, people are staying here. As a result, we have higher demand for accommodation. The demand for housing poses major...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 May 2019)

Colm Burke: Their circumstances have changed. I came across a situation where someone let out their own house following a bereavement in the family. That person went to rent an alternative house in a different location, but when they wanted to move back into their own home, it took 14 months to get possession of their own house. When the person got possession, they got no rent for the 14 months and...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 May 2019)

Colm Burke: We have seen where tenants have abused their situation and just moved into a new property because there are no checks and balances in the system. We need to be careful about this. I have always had a strong view about this. I have no problem with investors investing in the property market here. It is welcome. I keep raising the issue of long-term tenancies and making the tenant...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Free Travel Scheme (8 May 2019)

Colm Burke: My question relates to a person who receives money from the Office of Wards of Court arising from compensation for a road traffic accident. The person has a disability and attends a service every day, by bus, which ensures they are not confined to a home for the rest of their lives. Their medical condition is so serious that they will never drive again so they have to use public transport...