Results 8,821-8,840 of 11,246 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Primary Care Expansion: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the delegates for taking time out of their busy schedules and for the work they are doing for general practitioners throughout the country and for their own patients. On the contract negotiations, there is always a golden rule that if one wants to delay something, particularly if one is the person writing the cheque, one should create a division between the negotiators. Is there...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (28 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for coming before the House. My question relates to patient safety, clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness and the evaluation of telecommunications, in other words, GPs using telecommunications for giving one-to-one advice over the Internet. What regulation exists on this and how are we going to develop this area, which would be of benefit to GPs,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (28 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: What are we going to do to try and progress the matter and what are the Department's plans? Especially in rural areas where we are talking about primary care centres which would lead to the centralisation of GPs creating longer distances for people to travel, is there an overall plan to deal with this issue?

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I think eight days would be appropriate. I presume if it is a situation where the court becomes aware that it needs to be extended then appropriate application could be made.

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: Eights days in fact is something that I think would be appropriate in an initial application like this because it would be very dangerous to suddenly grant a period longer than eight days. I agree with the Minister. It would be open to challenge in the higher court.

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: On Thursday, 30 November 2017.

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I agree with what Senator Craughwell said. I do not think I need to go into it any further. It raises a very serious issue. I believe there is accountability but I am very concerned about the way this issue has developed. The Tánaiste has given a full explanation and everything she has done in respect of this matter has been above board. On another matter, I am frequently contacted...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I contend that the insurance companies are being held to account. This is about risk equalisation. The money is not coming from the Department of Health or from Government expenditure. Rather, it is being charged to the general public through their payments. I agree with my colleague that insurance companies should not be allowed to use this as a reason to increase premiums. However,...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: Next Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Judicial Council Bill 2017: Order for Second Stage (22 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Judicial Council Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister. I apologise for being slightly late. Senator Conway was to deal with this matter and he was delayed so I apologise on his behalf also. I welcome that the Minister has brought forward this Bill. Like my colleagues, I would also set out that over the past 90 years the Judiciary has served us well and has enjoyed total independence from the Oireachtas and the...

Seanad: Justice Matters: Statements (22 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I will be brief as a lot of what I had intended to say has been said by Senators Boyhan, Buttimer and Conway. The Tánaiste has served this country well whether in opposition or in government. She has always been above board in every action that she has taken.On this matter it was quiet clear she had no role whatever in what is now being alleged against her. I think it is wrong that we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of the Sláintecare Report (22 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for his presentation. He referred to €25 million for primary care during his presentation. One of the issues in relation to any health report and change is about focusing on the primary care setting. At present a huge amount of work is being referred to hospitals and GPs claim, and rightly so, that they do not get enough support. I am concerned about the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of the Sláintecare Report (22 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I would not use the NHS as the template.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of the Sláintecare Report (22 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: Under clause 20, subsection (g), of the contract the Department is entitled to carry out an audit. Does the Minister now envisage doing that if there is a question mark over, or a conflict of interest in, the HSE doing that audit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of the Sláintecare Report (22 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: The Department does have the power. Is that correct?

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (21 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Bill the Minister of State has brought before us. Risk equalisation is important in ensuring there is a level playing field for all, regardless of age. It is an indication of the upturn in the economy that 150,000 more people have taken out health insurance in the past two years and more than 2.1 million people are now covered. We must acknowledge the contribution the private...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (21 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I very much welcome the Bill. It sets out a number of amendments to the principal Act, namely, to sections 9, 28, 28A, 31, 38, 91 and 91A. It sets out a number of amendments that are required, and we are talking about 14 different professions here. My understanding is, as the Minister of State said, that for 11 of the professions the boards...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I refer to the UK Supreme Court decision yesterday on minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland. The court unanimously ruled that minimum pricing could be introduced. The Scottish Whisky Association, SWA, has now accepted the decision. If we are now going to have minimum pricing in Scotland the implication of the UK Supreme Court decision is that there is a need for both Northern Ireland and...