Results 9,021-9,040 of 11,246 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (17 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and all the work of their various organisations in giving support to people with disabilities. In his presentation, Mr. Brian O'Donnell referred to the education system. One of the issues I have come across over the past few months is the difference between the primary and secondary education systems. While there are a lot of supports at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (17 May 2017)

Colm Burke: We did have a vote there. I apologise for having to leave and I apologise to the speakers for not being here for the reply.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 May 2017)

Colm Burke: In June last year the Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare was set up. Our colleagues in the other House made sure we were barred from sitting on the committee but I will raise the issue of infrastructural development relating to hospitals. Every week in this House people talk about the need for infrastructural development for our education system and our roads but we need to talk...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 May 2017)

Colm Burke: May I speak briefly on that last amendment?

Seanad: Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 May 2017)

Colm Burke: The amendment is on an extremely important issue. In 2009, Senator Reilly introduced a Private Members' Bill. The then Minister for Health, Mary Harney, at that time in late 2009 or early 2010, undertook to take action on this matter. I subsequently raised the issue in 2012 when I published another Private Members' Bill along similar lines to this Bill. The big concern was about doctors...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for bringing this Bill through its final Stages. As I said earlier, this matter first came to light in 2008 and 2009 in respect of cosmetic surgery. There was a concern that procedures were being carried out and the medical services here had to pick up the pieces.There were people performing procedures who did not have adequate insurance. Senator James Reilly,...

Seanad: Childhood Obesity: Statements (17 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for coming forward on this matter. It is a major challenge in this State. The former Senator Eamonn Coghlan, who has a lot of experience around physical activity, always raised the issue of physical activity in schools. We have much work to do in the area of physical activity for children. People have better energy levels, improved self-esteem and mood when...

Seanad: Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017: Second Stage (17 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House and very much appreciate him being here for this Bill. I thank Senator Reilly for bringing this legislation forward. It is very important. The one warning I would sound relates to the fact that Senator Reilly brought forward a Bill in 2009 when he was a Deputy relating to medical practitioners and the need for insurance. Less than an hour ago, we signed...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise an issue that appeared on the front page of yesterday's edition of the Irish Examinerto the effect that there were 10,000 complaints of anti-social behaviour to local authorities nationwide over a two-year period.In that two-year time period only 12 evictions arose. That level of complaint seems to indicate that local authority officials are spending a huge amount of time...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Vaccination Programme: Discussion (11 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank all the witnesses for their presentations and for the work they have done over many years. Social media, which has been touched briefly during this debate, is a major influencer. When false information is given in the print media, it can be corrected reasonably quickly. There is a great deal of incorrect information on social media and it is difficult to correct it. We need to...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I support the Bill being introduced by Senator James Reilly. It is important we start planning in this area. There are simple issues we must resolve, such as the numbers of people getting support or being cared for by family. What is the age profile of parents? What planning must we do to ensure that when parents are no longer able to provide care, there can be someone to step in and take...

Seanad: Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017: First Stage (10 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for bringing forward this legislation and Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin for his work in this area, as well as all those in the Department and the various voluntary organisations and support agencies who have been to the forefront in pushing for this legislation which is very welcome. Just passing it and opening these centres, however, is not...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2017)

Colm Burke: Since I raised respite care as a Commencement matter today, several more families have contacted me. They are looking after their sons and daughters at home, providing care and are not able to access respite care. I am very concerned by the lack of planning in this matter. Several facilities are no longer available because of regulations and inspections carried out by the Health...

Seanad: Courts (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage (9 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill. As other colleagues said, it is very technical. I hope it will streamline the system in dealing with a lot of issues which end up in the courts and consume a huge amount of Garda time that could be avoided. I welcome the third payment option, whereby if a person does not pay the fine when a summons is issued, he or she can do so without having...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Residential Services for Adults and Children with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I asked HIQA a question about the 1,100 designated centres. Of the approximately 9,000 beds, what percentage is provided by the voluntary sector? Have we any idea of that figure? HIQA stated that it would revert to us, but the witnesses have a fair idea on the matter. My second question is also one that I asked of HIQA. Many of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Residential Services for Adults and Children with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I have a question on the breakdown of the 1,100 centres. What percentage related to the HSE? What percentage was non-HSE?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Residential Services for Adults and Children with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Residential Services for Adults and Children with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Quinn for his very comprehensive presentation. I have one or two questions. The witness spoke of the 1,100 designated centres. I know that he has given a breakdown of the centres that remain to be registered as 26%. Of the 1,100, is there a breakdown of the number of centres that are not under the management of the HSE and those operated by various voluntary organisations? It...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Apr 2017)

Colm Burke: We talk about no pubs being open on Good Friday. One of the big issues in Ireland at the moment is social media and I wonder if we could have a "No mobile phones" day. It would be interesting to see how we could function for an entire day without a mobile phone.