Results 8,841-8,860 of 11,246 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (Resumed) (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for the comprehensive overview. It is important to thank everyone in the Department, across the HSE and everyone involved in the provision of health care which is always demanding. It is important to begin on a positive note. We regularly speak about waiting lists. It is right that we raise the matter and try to deal with it to make the...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (Resumed) (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I move to suspend the sitting until 5.30 p.m.

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I work in an area where at one stage unemployment went from 40% up to 80%. I was elected in that area, where a lot of work has been done by community groups. I was involved in community groups for a long period, serving as chairperson of a local community association which was providing accommodation for over 41 different organisations. At the time, I was chair of the board of management...

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: Can Senator Devine not now take the criticism?

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I will stick to the motion but let us be constructive.

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: We went into government in 2011. There was 15% unemployment. We took on the issues. Critics stated it was all pie in the sky and they are disappointed now because it turns out that it was not pie in the sky and we delivered. We will deliver on housing and we will deliver on health care. I hope that Sinn Féin is still in opposition when we do that as well.

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: But the jobs are there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care - Rights, Resources and Regulation: Discussion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: Sorry, I have a problem about that. I am here at the committee every day -----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care - Rights, Resources and Regulation: Discussion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I apologise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care - Rights, Resources and Regulation: Discussion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I have no difficulty with the Vice Chairman's proposal. I apologise, I thought that the Vice Chairman was treating -----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care - Rights, Resources and Regulation: Discussion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and the huge amount of work which they have done on this. Their studies have been very comprehensive. I have concern based on looking at how we legislate here. I mentioned it earlier but in 2012 I produced a Private Members' Bill in 2012 on professional indemnity insurance for medical practitioners, Senator James Reilly had brought in a Private...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care - Rights, Resources and Regulation: Discussion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: It is important to clarify that private providers have to pay for things such as administration costs and insurance whereas the HSE is covered. That is not taken into account in the amount that is being paid to employees of the HSE so there is a huge difference.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care - Rights, Resources and Regulation: Discussion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: It is huge because private providers have to pay for insurance and administrative costs. When the cost of home care is taken into account, one is looking at the figure paid to the HSE employee, not the administration costs, so there is a difference.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care - Rights, Resources and Regulation: Discussion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I have a question about the timeframe. Will we see new regulation within a 12 to 18 month time period? I am not tying the witnesses to a certain time but I am wondering-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care - Rights, Resources and Regulation: Discussion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: It is a question I asked.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care - Rights, Resources and Regulation: Discussion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for the work they are doing and the support they have given through the years with regard to elderly care. I am approaching this from the perspective of trying to fast-track the changes we need. As I said earlier, I brought forward a legislative measure in 2012 in a Private Member's capacity and it is only now in place, five years later, so I was trying to tie down a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care - Rights, Resources and Regulation: Discussion (15 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I refer to the challenge of getting carers, about whether we can do something about incentivising that. Has that issue been approached in any way? It is going to be a major challenge particularly in rural areas because with the economic upturn there are a lot more jobs. Has that issue about incentivising been touched?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services Provision (14 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I raise this issue in the context of Fermoy Community Hospital. While this facility is not in my own area of Cork North-Central, it does in fact accommodate some patients from that area for respite care. I understand that there are nine respite beds available in the hospital but that difficulties have arisen around GP cover there. I know that the hospital and the HSE have done everything...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services Provision (14 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. This is a major challenge. There are nine respite beds not in full use. I am not clear about it but I know some people have had to transfer to Mallow and other areas for respite care. It must be prioritised. We are facing into the winter season and families face major challenges now. It is important that the respite facility...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: My apologies.