Results 9,881-9,900 of 11,271 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIV in Ireland: Discussion (27 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: On the 100,000 HIV cases, are there figures on Ireland? It is important that we have the correct information. What, in real terms, are the figures in Ireland?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIV in Ireland: Discussion (27 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: Do those figures refer to HIV?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIV in Ireland: Discussion (27 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: On the figure of 7,000, is Ms Seery saying that technically there are another 2,000 or 2,500 people who have not been diagnosed but who may very well have HIV?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIV in Ireland: Discussion (27 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: That is the figure we are discussing, that is, approximately 2,000 to 2,500 people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIV in Ireland: Discussion (27 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: Will Ms Seery clarify the levels about which she is talking? Members of the public who are listening to these proceedings may not be aware of this issue and she might clarify the specific CD4 levels.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIV in Ireland: Discussion (27 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I apologise; I was wondering.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: HIV in Ireland: Discussion (27 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the panel for their very detailed presentations and all the information it has been given this morning. I wish to touch on a few items that were raised. Ms Seery stated that over half of people are diagnosed late. What is meant by "diagnosed late"? It is important that we get clarification on the matter. Mr. Brady referred to the need for a campaign. How, in the delegates'...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage (26 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply and fully agree with her. We discussed with the Minister for Health earlier how the cost of medications in the ten year period 2000 to 2010 had increased from €570 million to €2 billion. We need to be conscious of this, but there would be many advantages in introducing this drug. I also accept that back-up support...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage (26 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: It is not.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage (26 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for State for coming to the House to deal with this Adjournment matter which concerns the medication, Selincro Nalmefene, an innovative treatment which was found to be cost effective and the subject of a positive recommendation from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics on 8 April. It was announced today that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in...

Seanad: Availability of Certain Medication: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, for giving a comprehensive reply to this matter. Like Senator Darragh O’Brien, I have been in contact with many MS sufferers for whom the drug was successful. In one case I know, the pharmacy is providing the drug at cost to the MS sufferer. When I raised this matter on the Adjournment on 17 June, I was advised that a new...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I welcome the announcements made in Cork on Friday. A €50-million development was begun, with the foundations being laid. The interesting thing is that it involves 175,000 square feet of office space and that even before the foundations were laid, 60% of this office space had been taken up and will be occupied within the next 16 months once it is completed. It is of concern to see...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I welcome yesterday's announcements about Irish Water and wish to make a few comments on what was said here this morning and take exception to Senator Cullinane's allegation that the Government is toxic. We have created more than 70,000 jobs since we came to power and are creating around 1,200 new jobs per week. We have brought stability to this country. We are also making sure we have a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: General Practitioner Services (19 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State. His response was positive, but there is a great reliance on the IBTS developing services. We are discussing rolling out a small research project to a number of general practices across the country. By working with general practitioners, GPs, in Cork, Cork University Hospital, the IBTS and UCC could identify the best way of managing this system and set out a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: General Practitioner Services (19 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I know he is stepping in for the Minister for Health on this matter. Ireland has the highest rate of hereditary haemochromatosis, which is a condition caused by the gradual accumulation of excess iron in the body, in the world. Haemochromatosis can develop without symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage at which it can be fatal. The...

Seanad: Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: Second Stage (19 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. I thank the Senators who have introduced this Bill, in particular, Senators Power, van Turnhout and Healy Eames. As someone who has been involved in drafting Private Members' Bills I know it is not an easy task and it takes a lot of work, dedication and commitment. I thank everyone involved. This Bill is comprehensive and carefully drafted and it...

Seanad: Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: Second Stage (19 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: If they had been in the same party they might have met earlier. When they are together one can see that they are sisters. They were put into foster care and had not been adopted yet it took them until they were in their 70s to find each another. This brings home the reason change is needed in this area. I refer to the recent Supreme Court judgment in the case of I.O'T v. B which states:...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Activities and Priorities: Eurofound (18 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank Eurofound for its report. Am I correct in saying our wage and salary levels are in the top six or seven in Europe? We have high costs in getting a product to the market because so many of our exports go to the European market. Do we need to be careful to make sure we keep our competitive edge over other manufacturers and producers, for example, in the pharmaceutical area? Has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Accountability Report 2013: European Movement Ireland (18 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: It might be helpful if the procedures for asking questions at the European Parliament were explained. It is not the same as it is in the Oireachtas. It would be helpful to include an explanation regarding the procedures because it is not the case that one can ask a question every week and it would be helpful to clarify that. As for the second issue regarding attendance at meetings and as...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Housing Regeneration (13 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. My question concerns the housing regeneration programme in Knocknaheeny. There are over 1,150 local authority houses in the Knocknaheeny area. A number of years ago, the local authority decided on a regeneration of the whole area and a detailed planning process was put in place to deal with it. I understand that we are still on phases 1A and...