Results 9,781-9,800 of 11,629 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: It is €200 million.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: Sinn Féin will lower the salaries.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: Sinn Féin will lower the salaries.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: I would love to have a debate on health with Sinn Féin, which does not want anyone in the health service to be paid more than €100,000 at a time when one of the biggest problems in the health service is the difficulty recruiting consultants..

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: The policy of the Senator's party is that it wants to cut salaries.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: Senator Cullinane's party might clarify its salary position-----

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: -----before it starts mouthing off about what it will do. Sinn Féin has made out that consultants are being paid too much. We have a big challenge in this country with the recruitment of medical staff. One of the challenges we are going to have to face over the next four or five years is the appropriate remuneration for people who have worked to get to the grade they are in and who...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: We will see it put in place on 11 January.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: I will not excuse Senator Norris for that comment, however.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Child and Family Services: Tusla (10 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Jeyes for the work he has done while with the agency and for the progress that has been made. I note the budget for the coming year has been increased and this is a result of producing results over the past 12 months. I welcome the recognition of that work through the increased budget. My main concern relates to young people who drop out of school. We seem to have fallen...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Medical Cards: Health Service Executive (9 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Ms Hoey for the presentation. According to the report, "Eligibility granted to applicants certified clinically as being terminally ill is no longer subject to an eligibility review". I have come across cases where to my surprise applications were refused. I accept that people were over the qualifying criteria, people aged over 70. The same discretion does not seem to have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Medical Cards: Health Service Executive (9 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: There is discretion in that if one applies for the card as if the person was under 70, there is discretion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Medical Cards: Health Service Executive (9 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: What concerns me and the issue I am raising is where discretion is not applied where there is clear medical evidence that it should be.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: I agree with the remarks made by Senator Darragh O'Brien in regard to the drug for cystic fibrosis patients. It is important that this issue be resolved. It is also important, in the context of the negotiations relating to the drug, that we get value for money. There has been much coverage in the past couple of years with regard to the availability of particular drugs and the fact that the...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Senators involved for bringing forward the amendment. As a practising solicitor, I have some concerns about it from my own experience which includes attending a nursing home to have a document granting power of attorney signed, only to find that the person concerned was not at all happy about signing it. I did not get it signed but two days later in my office I found a signed...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (8 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: On the Leas-Chathaoirleach's ruling, my Commencement matter relates to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons, which is the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. While I respect the Leas-Chathaoirleach's decision, this is a case of buck passing between the Department and the local authorities. The accommodation referred to which has...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (8 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: I appreciate the Leas-Chathaoirleach's suggestion, but-----

Seanad: Business of Seanad (8 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: While I accept the ruling, it is an important issue, particularly as we approach Christmas, when there are homeless persons on the streets, despite the fact that this accommodation is available.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: On the flooding issue, it is important to prioritise the provision of flood defences, but it is also important that they be planned correctly. Interestingly, one report from the United Kingdom shows that in one area £37 million was spent on flood defences, yet, four or five years later, the entire area was flooded again. Consequently, it is not only about building flood defences but...

Seanad: Charities and Voluntary Organisations: Statements (8 Dec 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Senator Ó Murchú for raising this matter and I also thank the Leader for allowing the debate. It is important that we give recognition to people who work in voluntary organisations. The great change that has occurred in recessionary times was the swing back to voluntary organisations. It is important as the economy picks up that we do not lose that and that we encourage...