Results 9,701-9,720 of 11,271 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: The failures happened when the Senator's party was in office.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: From 2002 to 2010, Fianna Fáil did nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: If the report is true he does not want to hear it.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister and thank her for a very comprehensive overview on this amendment of the Constitution. No constitution is written in stone and it is important that we start from there. This is the 34th amendment of the Constitution. There has been a very small number of amendments when one thinks of the lifetime of this Constitution. As my colleague, Senator Byrne, said, society...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the delegates for their presentations. I refer to a paragraph in the presentation made by Mr. White on codes of practice. It reads:The RRAI has consistently supported the replacement of the existing voluntary code of practice in mixed trading premises with a statutory code with strengthened provisions on the display and sale of alcohol in mixed trade stores. Will he outline what is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Tegerdine for his presentation. First, will he outline the total number of section 38 organisations we are discussing? Have we an idea of the total budget among all those organisations? I am not asking for precise figures but a rough guideline. Second, were there structures in place before the circular of September 2013? What was the structure in place in terms of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: My apologies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: Recommendation No. 19 in the report on the implementation of recommendations is recorded as unable to implement. Will Mr Tegerdine give the committee some further clarification on that issue? What are we talking about? Mr Tegerdine refers to a statement by Ms Oonagh Buckley to the Committee of Public Accounts on 19 December 2013. Can we have some clarification on that because it is not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: As regards section 38 agencies, it is relevant in that 25 have made business cases. My understanding is that we are not talking about a huge number of section 38 agencies overall. That is why I am wondering from where the figure of 25 came. That is why the question is relevant.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: A total 25 of the 39 agencies have submitted business cases.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I accept that, but 25 of the 39 agencies have made submissions where they are non-compliant.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: Before 2013, what structure was in place between the Department of Health, the HSE and the various agencies involved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: Was there anything to prevent any of the agencies from entering into a legal agreement before 2013?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: Does that mean that they were not in breach of any regulation if they did sign a legal agreement prior to the circular of 2013?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: At the same time, however, there was no regulation in place preventing agencies from entering into a higher level of pay with individuals to whom they were giving a contract?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: There was nothing to prevent them from entering into such contracts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: The reason I am asking this question is that I know of a case in which a person moved from a HSE job to a position in the voluntary hospital sector and it was widely rumoured at the time - this was eight or ten years ago - that there was a huge difference in salary scales, even though the funding for the voluntary hospital was provided through the HSE. There did not appear to be restrictions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: There was guidance but no regulation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Remuneration of Section 38 Agency Staff: Health Service Executive (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: Mr. Tegerdine said recommendations Nos. 20 and 21 had been sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Does he believe the delay on the part of that Department in dealing with the issue will cause problems within the section 38 organisations or within the HSE? Is there a need for that Department to be put under pressure to make a decision on this matter?

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I too wish to congratulate the men's and women's rugby teams on their success in the past week. It shows that leadership was provided in the work they have done in achieving successful results at the weekend. The week beginning 28 March is organ donor week. One of the problems in Ireland is that more than 600 people are waiting for kidney transplants. The number of medical consultants...