Results 9,561-9,580 of 11,246 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Jury Service (18 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State. He might clarify whether there is any timeframe for the juries Bill. Will we see it before the end of the Government's term or will it be published in the next Government's term?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Affordable High-Quality Child Care: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their comprehensive presentations. I apologise for having to leave for a time to participate in a Commencement debate in the Seanad. One of the points that struck me when listening to the presentations is that what is lacking in this area is long-term planning. We need to set out a five-year and ten-year programme showing where we are at and where...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I think we should have a debate on the report on the cost of medical indemnity insurance, in relation to the medical profession, which was launched by the Joint Committee on Health and Children this morning. The major problems being faced by people who are working in the private health care sector in this country mean that some positions cannot be filled. The annual professional indemnity...

Seanad: Tackling Obesity in Ireland: Statements (17 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: We are facing major problems in this country and I agree with what the Minister had to say about the World Health Organization. We have a growing problem and, while we seem to have been able to get to grips with the health problems caused by smoking, obesity is now our most serious problem. It has moved ahead of smoking as an issue. Some 61% of Irish adults are overweight or obese and one...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I join colleagues in conveying condolences to the families who have lost a son or daughter. I also express my condolences to those who have suffered serious injury and to their parents and families. I thank the Department of Foreign Affairs for being so proactive in helping the families. It is extremely important that families get every possible support at this time. I join Senator Bacik...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for bringing forward this Bill to introduce GP cards for the over-70s who are beneath a certain income level, which is €36,400 per annum. That is substantial income and the threshold for a couple would be €72,000. Some 36,000 people will benefit from the introduction of this Bill. The scheme will also be rolled out...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

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

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Affordable High-Quality Child Care: Discussion (11 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their very comprehensive presentations. Having been in the private sector for many years, I am well aware of the issues associated with running any business. Ms Michele Akerlind referred to rates of €13,000 per annum. That works out at €250 per week, which is quite a lot of money. With regard to the cost of providing services, I am not looking for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Dublin Dental University Hospital: Chairman Designate (11 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Nolan for his presentation and congratulate him on his appointment. I wish him every success in it. Can I flag up two issues with him in view of his presentation? If I am out of order the Chairman may say so. In his submission, Mr. Nolan said it is important to ensure that there is equivalence of treatment for all those eligible for health service-provided dental care in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: St. James's Hospital, Dublin: Chairman Designate (11 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Donnelly for his detailed submission. His curriculum vitae is highly impressive. I congratulate him on his achievements to date and wish him well in his new role. I will raise two issues of great relevance to the health service. Mr. Donnelly has acquired considerable experience in technology, an area in which health service has not been heavily involved. I understand, for...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I support Senator O’Donovan’s point on hospital waiting lists. There is now a major problem in that regard. Part of the problem is due to the lack of long-term planning, in particular from 2003 on when we did not employ enough consultants. The last time I inquired about the matter when the HSE attended the Committee on Health and Children, it was confirmed that more than 325...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organ Donation (9 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is a short Commencement matter relating to living donors of kidney transplants. The issue of giving assistance to donors was raised at the health committee some months ago. If a person is a living donor he or she will obviously be out of work for a period. My understanding is that it can be anything up to three months. The entire cost of dialysis...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organ Donation (9 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for a comprehensive reply. The only other question I have in respect of the kidney donation issue relates to the current position on the number of consultants we require. I realise it was not part of my question. Anyway, we have over 1,800 people on dialysis. Let us compare this to Norway, which has a population of 4.8 million. It has only approximately 370 or 380...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I support Senator Michael Mullins's call for tax incentive for doctors, particularly those who have given up jobs and gone back to college under the graduate entry programme. If I was to borrow money in the morning to set up a business, I would be entitled to write off the interest on those borrowings against the profits I make in the business. On the other hand, if I were to give up my job...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Prevention Measures (28 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I know the Minister of State has a very busy schedule and I thank him for taking the time to deal with this important matter. Cork has had major flooding on a number of occasions. The most recent flooding was extremely severe. The Office of Public Works drew up plans following detailed consultation in July 2014. It is important that we are given an outline of the intended work and its...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Prevention Measures (28 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State. I note he referred to the third quarter of 2015. I ask that work would commence in the very early part of the third quarter because this matter should be progressed as early as possible. The ESB has implemented flood control measures in Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid dams and this is welcome. The local authority has a warning system in place.We have a lot of...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise the issue of home care providers, which was featured on the front page of the Irish Examinerthis morning. The fact is someone can serve five years in Mountjoy jail and still set up a company to provide home care the day after release. There is no regulation governing the matter. I published a Private Members' Bill on the matter over four months ago. Resistance to a debate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ombudsman for Children: Presentation (28 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I have tabled a Commencement Matter in the Seanad this morning and I must leave soon. I thank Dr. Muldoon very much for his very detailed presentation and for outlining the work he is doing. He raised homelessness and children and the considerable pressures on local authorities at the moment. It is an issue that must be tackled urgently. I was involved in referring two cases to Dr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ombudsman for Children: Presentation (28 May 2015)

Colm Burke: In about ten minutes.