Results 8,761-8,780 of 11,246 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: Is the figure 2,000?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: Can I come back on this as I think it is important? There was a sudden increase of 2,000 people who were not front-line staff, whether or not they were agency staff. I have raised with the Minister and the Department the lack of accountability in this regard. It is a pity that the same pro rataincrease was not provided in section 39 staff when it could have been. Probably some 300 or 400...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I do not necessarily agree with my colleague. I believe they are setting out the facts as they are and I very much appreciate what they have set out here. I have one or two questions - I apologise in advance but I have to speak in the Seanad in a few minutes - on the €800 million, which is going to the section 39 organisations. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: One section of the HSE had a significant increase in staff numbers, but there was no pro rataincrease in section 39 provision. I do not think that was taken into account in the planning process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: Over the past three years there was significant growth in administration and managerial staff in the HSE without anyone calling check on it and saying that we need to look after the people on the front line of section 39 organisations. Neither the Department nor the HSE looked at that issue which should not have arisen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: I have analysed the figures and do not accept that. The figures show that 2,000 additional staff were recruited and I do not accept that they ended up on the front line.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: I have examined the figures for hospitals. The same approach to looking after front-line services in section 39 organisations was not taken in 2014, 2015 and 2016. My point is that if it had been taken on a pro rata basis, the current challenge in respect of section 39 organisations would not have arisen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: In the 2015 annual report 4,700 staff were categorised as managerial. However, the HSE subsequently changed the classification by removing grades 7 and 8 from the managerial category. The real figures I received in April show there are now 5,400 managerial staff in the HSE. Ms Mannion can give me all of the figures she likes. When questions were tabled on this issue, grade 7 and 8 staff...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: I accept that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: While I accept that, the section 39 organisations did not benefit from a pro rataincrease in funding. If they had been provided with a pro rataincrease, we would not have the current problem.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: I want to raise an issue that has come into the public domain in the past few days. I refer to the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, being invited to carry out an investigation into an incident that took place in one of the maternity hospitals, which has now ended up in the courts. I want to raise concerns about the way we have dealt with some of the issues that relate to...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Tánaiste and I thank him for his contribution. I thank Senator Black for bringing forward this Bill. I agree with my colleague, Senator Boyhan, about the importance of engaging in debate. The introduction of this legislation has led to discussion on this issue in Ireland and throughout the international community. My Sinn Féin colleague mentioned the boycott of...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: Yes. That is right.

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: That is the point I am making. No legislation was put in place to organise that boycott. We can organise a boycott in this country without legislation. While I welcome the Bill, I have concerns about it. I suppose I am looking at it purely from a legal point of view. In particular, I note that section 4 of the Bill, which relates to regulation, provides that "the Minister may make...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: I accept the point the Senator is making, but I am talking about this aspect of the matter from an EU point of view.

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: Section 7, which relates to the sale of settlement goods, provides that it "shall be an offence for a person to sell or attempt to sell settlement goods". The burden of proof will be on the State. It will be difficult for the State to prove that the goods were produced in a location where settlement had occurred. That will be one of the problems with this legislation. I agree with the...

Seanad: British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (Committee D) Report on Childhood Obesity: Statements (25 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: I will be brief because a lot of the issues that I wanted to deal with have been referred to already. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to the House. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, for being here earlier and I also thank my party colleague, Senator Catherine Noone, the other members of the committee and the those who are involved in the British-Irish...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Relief Schemes Status (24 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: I know there are many demands on the Department in respect of flood relief but this matter goes back to 2012 when the Meadowbrook estate in Glanmire, County Cork, was badly flooded and some houses were under between 4 ft and 5 ft of water, with extensive damage done. The estate is alongside the Glashaboy River and it was decided there was a need for a flood relief scheme. A lot of work was...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Relief Schemes Status (24 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State and appreciate the comprehensive reply he has given. He outlined the historical background and the work which has been done and which needs to be done. My only issue is that the residents want action. The more the Minister of State can do to bring forward the tendering process and the commencement of the works the better, and it would be very much appreciated....

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jan 2018)

Colm Burke: When my colleague raised the issue of driverless cars I was wondering whether the cars will be geared to avoid the potholes.