Results 8,861-8,880 of 11,246 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I again apologise to Senator Fintan Warfield. I was not listening properly when the Cathaoirleach called him. I refer to the report, A Future Together: Building a Better GP and Primary Care Service, which was launched yesterday at Trinity College Dublin. It is a very comprehensive report that highlights a number of crucial issues. I know that there will be statements on health care...

Seanad: Housing and Rental Market: Statements (14 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: That shows the strength of tourism.

Seanad: Housing and Rental Market: Statements (14 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. I agree with Senator Ruane in much of what she has said. Some of the provisions in the planning legislation and, in particular, the exemption about which she spoke were designed for a different era. We now need to bring in amending legislation to deal with this. Senator Swanick referred to 15% of the number of hosts possessing 39% of the entire home...

Seanad: Housing and Rental Market: Statements (14 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I wish to refer to the remarks of Senator Gavan. I agree with him that the issue of Palestine has remained static for a long period. From a diplomatic point of view and the point of view of someone who visited Gaza in 2009, I believe nothing has changed in the past eight years. If anything, circumstances have become more difficult. Each year, there seems to be a disimprovement rather than...

Seanad: Regional Technical Colleges (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (9 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I too fully support this amendment. A person who works in the family law courts will find that drink has been a major contributory factor to much domestic violence. The people who really suffer are the children. It is important that at the start of this Bill, we state it is relevant to children and that we support this amendment.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I will be very brief. I reassure my colleagues that on the issue of pricing, this Bill is about setting up structures. The Minister and Government are very much aware of the issues that have been raised about the Six Counties and the Border counties. We have to get the legislation in place before we take any action. This is about putting the framework in place and making sure we can...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: The expert research relies on figures produced by the HSE and other health services. That is what expert research is based on.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the amendment on labelling tabled by Senator Nash as well as the detail he has provided. I suggest that we adopt the amendment in principle but refine it somewhat. One of the problems with labelling is to make sure that one can communicate the message with the shortest make-up of information so it is important that we refine this down. Too much information on a label can cause...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I want to tease out whether, if a facility was previously involved in manufacturing and is now a visitor centre, an exemption would be incorporated in this case. I am not clear whether this would deal with the issue. It is something that might be teased out.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I agree with my colleagues that we need to work towards removing such sponsorship of sports. In fairness to the sports organisations, there has been a huge sea change in the past ten or 15 years. I mean, in particular, for the players where there are strict rules for those who are actively training to make sure they are not in any way involved in drinking at the same time. I agree with my...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for dealing with this by way of a compromise and for taking on board the concerns raised by Senators. He was prepared to sit down and deal with the issues relating to segregation. I refer back to the work of Senator Buttimer and the health committee, of which I am a member and which looked at this matter comprehensively during the lifetime of the previous Oireachtas....

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: The Senator was concerned that there would be no increase in this area.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I am well aware of that. I will just finish this point.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I will stick with the section. In case it is not vodka about which Senator McDowell is concerned, gin will increase in price from €15.99 to €20.71. That is the minimum unit pricing we are talking about. The Bill is not just about one issue, it is about a number of them. There is no proposal to marginalise people who drink alcohol. The Bill is about a balanced approach to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for the presentations. On the previous occasion I had a concern, which I raised at the September meeting, about the matter being revisited. The figures being given to me are to the effect that there are approximately 148 orphan drugs, with 133 approved and used in Germany. We are using either 53 or 55 and other countries around Europe seem to be way ahead of us in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: It is my understanding that 20 people are on the Alpha-1 drug and they are now being advised that it will not get approval. What happens to those 20 people now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: The protocol is not there at the moment. As I understand it, there is no obligation on the drug company to continue providing the drug. Am I correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Colm Burke: The problem is that they are looking for clarity at this stage. They want to know between now and Christmas whether they are going to find out on the news or in the newspaper if they will continue to have the drug available to them the following day, week or month. They are now in that dilemma. That is the difficulty we have to deal with as public representatives because people are getting...