Results 9,241-9,260 of 11,271 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: Yesterday I raised the cost of nursing homes and my colleagues raised it this morning. I raised it because, at the moment, the cost of public nursing homes is €1,700 per bed per week. The private nursing home sector gets €850 per week, a difference of €850. The private nursing homes have no problem increasing wages and salaries if they get the remuneration to pay for it.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: In the past five years, there has been an increase of 13% in the cost of public nursing homes, despite the fact that it costs €1,700 per week per bed at the moment. The argument is that they look after people with dementia but so does the private sector. The private sector has had a 1.75% increase in those five years. If one takes the logic of my colleague's point this morning, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: He might also deal with the cost of building a public nursing home. The cost of building a public nursing home in Donegal is €22.75 billion for a 130-bed unit, at €175,000 per bed. If a person in the private sector borrowed money at 5% the cost of each bed in interest payments would be over €8,000 per annum.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: The public sector does not have to carry that cost but the private sector does. Let us have the debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: The private sector has responded very responsibly and has delivered very well for a large number of families in this country. That needs to be acknowledged.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: The documentary broadcast last night, "The Crossing", did a very good job on showing how the Naval Service and the Defence Forces work to save lives, as well as their dedication and commitment to their job. They work very much as a team to ensure the maximum number of people can be saved in their rescue missions in the Mediterranean. I also compliment the producers of the programme. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: Does Senator Ó Clochartaigh believe in jobs? There are 200,000 more people at work-----

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (8 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for bringing forward this legislation. I agree with my colleague. We are concerned when any levy is increased. That is the challenge we face over the next 15 or 20 years. If one looks at the growth of the population over 66, it will continue to increase. Pensions alone will cost an extra €200 million per annum because of...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (8 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Cystic Fibrosis Treatment: Statements (8 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. I appreciate his coming in here and taking time out from his busy schedule.This is an extremely important issue because people with cystic fibrosis face major challenges every day and we must do everything possible to assist them. We must also consider how to resolve this issue soon. Vertex has done major research but someone cannot dictate the rules...

Seanad: Cystic Fibrosis Treatment: Statements (8 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2015: Discussion (8 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I thank the delegates for their presentations. I will refer to some of the issues touched on, the first of which concerns where there is an adverse event but no explanation of the outcome. I know of a case where it was decided that an external person would be appointed to carry out a review. The person to carry out the review was agreed to, but someone in administration decided they were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2015: Discussion (8 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I thank all the delegates for their very comprehensive presentations. I wish to start with Mr. Breen of the State Claims Agency. He might indicate to us the change in the level of litigation in the past three or four years, in particular the figures paid out in 2014, 2015 and 2016. What is his view in this regard for the next 12 months to two years? My understanding from listening to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2015: Discussion (8 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I raised an issue about the level of compensation. Could it be dealt with?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2015: Discussion (8 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: Is the other issue I raised about the changeover of staff a feature of cases? We have relied very much on agency staff, especially junior doctors. There is a very fast turnover of staff. Is this having a detrimental effect as a result on litigation?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Maternity Services (7 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I fully understand that the Minister is not available. I wish to raise the report on maternity services at Portlaoise. The report includes a recommendation that the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists made in its report on the future of maternity and gynaecological services in Ireland. The institute recommended, in December...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Maternity Services (7 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. She said there are seven vacancies. The health committee was informed that there were only three or four vacancies. There should be clarity and transparency about this. The hospitals that have not filled these vacancies should be clearly identified along with the timescale for filling them. When will the recommendations be fully accepted? I...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: In any discussion on the cost of drugs, we need to look at the overall picture of what they cost in this country. Last year, drugs and pharmaceuticals cost us €2.6 billion. That figure has consistently gone up. Despite making agreements with pharmaceutical companies on lowering the cost of drugs, we are still spending more per capitathan any other country. Senator Daly was going on...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: There was a recommendation-----

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: There was a recommendation-----