Results 9,641-9,660 of 11,271 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Regeneration Projects Funding (12 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for taking this matter. My concern relates to Knocknaheeny and what is now known as the north-west regeneration project in Cork city. I represented that area of the city for 12 years on Cork City Council. When I left the city council in 2007, the project was being planned but since then, progress has been extremely slow. I am particularly...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Regeneration Projects Funding (12 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I have two concerns. First, I have no details on the amount of money allocated for 2014 and what was subsequently drawn down. That is the reason I raise this issue. The project is progressing extremely slowly. As I stated, there are 1,150 local authority houses in this area. For 2015, a total of 23 will be completed. I am not saying all 1,150 houses will be affected by the changes but...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Regeneration Projects Funding (12 May 2015)

Colm Burke: Can I ask about-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Regeneration Projects Funding (12 May 2015)

Colm Burke: -----the amount allocated in 2014 also?

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I wish to support Senator Whelan with regard to the report relating to Portlaoise hospital. It is important that this matter be debated. In that context, a number of key issues must be considered. In the first instance, there are 19 maternity units throughout the country. Why is it not possible to publish perinatal morality rates relating to each of these units, particularly when, as I...

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption in Ireland: Statements (12 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister and thank him for a comprehensive overview of this issue, including the relevant facts and figures. Senator Ó Murchú noted that alcohol-related issues cost the health service €3.7 billion annually. The direct cost of alcohol is €2.4 billion. The Minister noted that 83 people die each month as a direct result of health problems caused by...

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption in Ireland: Statements (12 May 2015)

Colm Burke: At 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care: Discussion (7 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the delegates for their detailed contributions and the work they are doing. It is unfortunate that in the period 2000 to 2010, when huge funds were available, there was very little development in this area. A lot more should have been done during that ten year period. What was able to be done in the past three to four years was limited because of the lack of funding. It was stated...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (6 May 2015)

Colm Burke: It is a totally different question.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (6 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I understand. I just want to emphasise that.

Seanad: Appointment of Receivers: Motion (6 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. In talking about receivers or liquidators it is important to state they must at all times act within the law. If they act outside it, action can be taken. I know that the Garda in co-operating with receivers will ensure they will at all times act not only within the law but also within the terms of a court order. That is important.It is not a case of...

Seanad: Spring Economic Statement: Statements (6 May 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State who has made a comprehensive statement on this matter. I remind Senator Kathryn Reilly that 20,000 jobs will be lost in Northern Ireland, the equivalent to 60,000 jobs being lost in the Twenty-six Counties, and that it has had poor economic growth rates for several years. This is an issue that should not be ignored. In 2014 we had a 4.8% economic growth...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (30 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. My question concerns the public perception of the fair deal scheme, which was set up in 2009. The structure was that people would pay 80% of their pension or income and 5% of their assets for a maximum of three years. That was subsequently raised to 7.5% of assets. The scheme has been operating for over seven years and this year will cost around...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (30 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for the information. Given that during the past four years we have paid approximately €3.8 billion in the fair deal scheme and that we are now discussing a refund of €23 million, it is less than 0.5% of the overall expenditure. Regarding the 80% of people's pension that is being collected, we have never received any information from the HSE about what it...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: There are quite a number of vacant consultant posts in Irish hospitals. Negotiations were held and a new pay structure was put in place for new entrants. An entrant can come in at between one and nine on the pay structure but there is a stand off between the HSE and Irish Medical Organisation about how that will be adjudicated on regarding the pay scale that applies to an applicant. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I am raising it because it is important that this information is available. The total sum raised is €23.8 million out of €5.4 billion. It is important this information is in the public domain and that the proper perception is out there rather than the one people seem to be putting out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Migration Policy and Current Situation in Mediterranean Sea: Discussion (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank our guests for their attendance and for their presentations. I apologise that I had to leave the meeting as a vote was called in the Seanad. Mr. Brian Killoran referred to the lack of a coherent EU immigration policy. I refer to my experience of having served in the European Parliament and on its foreign affairs committee and human rights sub-committee. Would he agree that there...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: An earlier speaker called for the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coffey, to come to the House. It is important that we have a debate on the moneys allocated to local authorities for the house building programme. For example, more than €204 million has been allocated for Cork, money which is to be spent over a three year...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: May I move that we extend the sitting by ten minutes? This debate started 20 minutes late and it is not unreasonable to ask, but I am in the Acting Chairman's hands.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: It is an important issue and the debate was delayed by ten minutes.