Results 8,181-8,200 of 11,246 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (4 Apr 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Apr 2019)

Colm Burke: Yesterday the Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, Deputy Harty, and I went to the site of the national children's hospital and met the people in charge there. Real progress is being made on that building project. Some 420 people are working on that site, but when the structure is completed and the various services are being put in, 2,500 people will be required to work...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Apr 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for bringing the Bill forward. It is important to achieve a balance. There are genuine cases where the views, considerations and family circumstances of the property owner are not taken into account. I would like the Minister to take that consideration forward but balance is important and this Bill certainly helps that.

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Apr 2019)

Colm Burke: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Colm Burke: In dealing with the housing issue one of the factors that has not been dealt with is the number of vacant houses. I was in an area in recent days where I was told by residents that a three bedroom semi-detached house has been vacant for seven years. The owner owns of a number of other properties and it is now not profitable for that person to let the house. I do not understand the reason...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: Like my colleagues, I join in wishing Mr. Donal Hickey well and thank him for his contribution and work in the Houses of the Oireachtas over a long number of years. I wish him well in his retirement. I refer to the issue of housing. One of the issues that is being missed in this debate is the reason we have a significant demand for housing is because there has been a significant increase...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: I raise the issue of lending, following what Senator Ó Céidigh said. I was speaking at the economics society in UCC last Monday night where a presentation was made by Mr. Seamus Coffey, who is on the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC.He produced very detailed graphs on the levels of savings and borrowings in Ireland. It is interesting that we now have more savings than...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (27 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also very much welcome this Bill. As someone who is involved in the political and the legal arenas, I am very familiar with the issues that can arise. One of the concerns I have on occasion is the lack of engagement by the lending institutions with the borrowers, in particular where there are a number of properties involved and where one...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: I welcome the confirmation from the Minister for Health today that the company that manufactures Spinraza has agreed to make further submissions to the HSE. Spinraza is a very important drug for children with spinal muscular atrophy. I understand this drug could assist the small number of people affected. I know the HSE has previously turned down the submissions made by Biogen that the...

Seanad: National Children's Hospital: Statements (7 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: It is being built.

Seanad: National Children's Hospital: Statements (7 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister. My apologies for being slightly late and for not being here when he arrived. It is important to outline what the children's hospital will contain because some are giving the impression that it will have only 473 beds. As I understand it, there will be 380 inpatient beds and 60 acute beds. This must be considered from the overall context of the young population we...

Seanad: National Children's Hospital: Statements (7 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: What medical experts are we talking about? The medical institutions came down in favour of St. James's. Go read the reports.

Seanad: National Children's Hospital: Statements (7 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: It is incorrect information.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Radio Broadcasting (6 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: Community and local radio stations play an important role in this country by providing information, giving local news and dealing with issues as they arise in the community. They give opportunities to people to express views and while Members may not agree with them, there is freedom of expression in this country. It is important that there should be a fair and balanced approach to how...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Radio Broadcasting (6 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for a comprehensive reply. I hope this matter will be dealt with at an early date and that the issues which local and community radio stations have raised will be dealt with as soon as possible.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (6 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for bringing this legislation forward. It is extremely important that we elect 13 very good people to the European Parliament. The Minister of State has outlined the numbers. The European Parliament has a very large membership. People may not be aware that MEPs have only one minute of speaking time in the Parliament. The main work of the Parliament is in its...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Order for Committee Stage (6 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: Now.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Order for Committee Stage (6 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: I move: "That Committee Stage be taken now".

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise a planning matter. Everybody wants houses built but we must be very careful about building infrastructure to provide for families who move into any new houses. I recently had a meeting with residents in an area where six new building projects have either got planning or in the process of getting planning. This will add 400 houses to an area without any overall master plan...

Seanad: The Future of Europe and the Value of European Union Membership to Ireland: Statements (5 Mar 2019)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for coming here this evening to deal with this extremely important debate. I thank her, as well as the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, and the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, for the work they have done defending Ireland's position on Brexit in the negotiations. They have put up a really good performance in ensuring we do...