Results 8,901-8,920 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise the issue of our policy on trying to assist the airports outside of Dublin and trying to increase traffic flow in and out of those airports, whether it be Shannon, Cork or Knock. A problem has arisen that has been brought to my attention by a number of people. I refer to the prices Aer Lingus is charging people flying out of Cork. For instance, if I were to book flights for...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister. I thank the Senators who brought forward the Bill. There is a huge effort involved in drafting legislation for presentation to this House. I also welcome Jake's family. All of us here have been affected by suicide in some way or other down through the years. It is always a very difficult issue in terms of the questions that remain unanswered. In the vast majority...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I am referring to medical experts being required to provide evidence as to whether a drug should have been prescribed. There is already a procedure in place for dealing with that. Such matters do not relate to the role of the coroner. For that reason, I have a difficulty with this Bill. It could lead to a situation whereby coroners' inquests could drag on ad infinitumas a result of the...

Seanad: Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for attending. This law has been up and running in Scotland since 1977 and there is the Presumption of Death Act 2013 in the rest of the UK. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed. Since I published this Bill, there was a tragic incident off the west coast. In another case a number of years ago in Tipperary, someone went missing and it was more than...

Seanad: Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise a question on gynaecological services in Cork University Hospital, CUH, and the timeline for the roll-out of additional staff to deal with the backlog. My understanding is that 42% of all patients waiting in the country are waiting in Cork. Where are we in that regard? When are we likely to make serious inroads into the waiting list? My next question is on the fair deal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: Is there a timeline for the review?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the deputations for appearing before the committee this morning. I have tabled question 5, which is a specific question on orthopaedic services in Cork, in particular those in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. I note from the reply that there are 456 people waiting for a first appointment for more than 24 months. I am raising the question because of the case of one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: What proportion of the 6,000 are in agencies?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: No, I am wondering how many of the 6,000 are on agency contracts. It is important that we deal with that issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: On the management issue, the hospitals I am talking about are not small hospitals. If something has gone on for 18 years I am concerned about the fact that no action has been taken. I accept that over the past five to six years it has been difficult to do that but it needs to be given priority. It cannot be allowed to continue that there is a lack of continuity. On orthopaedic surgery...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: But it is an issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I accept that but I find it difficult to understand how someone will wait 24 months on a public list, who has private health insurance, and then get in under the National Treatment Purchase Fund and are prepared to wait two years to avail of it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: It is a complex psychological issue but I still do not understand why out of six patients who were referred, four had private health insurance.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: Could I ask that the issue would be looked at?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: Are there other issues that we are not being told about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: That is why I am asking it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I wish to follow up on a question put by Deputy Kelleher relating to approved posts filled on a temporary basis. There are ten approved posts in obstetrics-gynaecology which are occupied on a temporary basis. A report produced in 2003 set a target of 180 consultants in this area by 2012. I understand the number was 130 at the last count. At that time we spoke about increasing the number...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Colm Burke: I have no difficulty with the planning but I do have a problem with the numbers applying for the posts. This will pose a major challenge. When four posts were advertised only two new people in real terms came in to apply for them. That is a difficulty for us this year.