Results 9,901-9,920 of 11,271 for speaker:Colm Burke

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

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I know that money was allocated in 2014, but my understanding is that the drawdown and availability of money has been extremely slow. The whole project has slowed up quite considerably. In fairness, it is a project that needs to be given priority. If there are obstacles to be overcome then it is important that they be dealt with. It appears,...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: We have not had a debate in the House for some time on the issue of local authority housing and its future. We need a discussion on this issue. Many people whose economic circumstances have changed would be prepared to purchase their houses from the local authority, but there is no provision in place to allow them to do so. It is important that people be given that opportunity. They have...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State and the Department for bringing forward this legislation. I also thank the Department for the consultation that took place prior to this. It is important that there be consultation prior to bringing forward legislation - as many people as possible should be involved in the process. This legislation is evidence of this. I thank everyone who contributed to the...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: Any member of a profession can report a matter to the Competition Authority without the necessity for a provision to be included in legislation. Comprehensive legislation relating to the Competition Authority is already in place. This Bill deals with health care, and I do not believe we should now impose an additional condition here when the issue is already dealt with adequately in other...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: The amendments refers to the discovery of a medical condition that requires medical treatment. That means a practitioner would be required to make a recommendation that the patient take a second opinion for every medical condition discovered. Even where the practitioner has competence to deal with the matter, he or she is obliged to refer the patient to someone else. This is why I have a...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I agree with Senator MacSharry. The amendment is extremely restrictive. It refers to any person registered by the Optical Registration Board, in the course of an examination, discovering a medical condition that would require medical treatment. The people about whom we are talking would have the competence to deal with certain aspects, such as an infection or some aspects of a problem that...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien about the need for a debate on the Fair Deal scheme, because we are facing major problems. Given the number of people in hospital who have been assigned nursing homes, the cost to the State is approximately €40 million. This is a huge amount of money and the question is whether we provide those beds by making cuts in other areas or by increasing...

Seanad: Suicide and Mental Health: Statements (11 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for her very comprehensive overview of the progress that has been made in the provision of mental health services and the health policy reform that is progressing in this area. There are two major challenges. First, there is the whole area of reform, on which A Vision for Change sets out a clear pathway. The second area that is the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I join in conveying our sympathy to the Walsh family on the death of Mr. Joe Walsh. He was an outstanding Deputy for west Cork and an extremely progressive Minister for Agriculture and Food. He made a major contribution as a Minister and it is important we recognise that fact. I join in conveying our sympathy to his wife and family. Even before he came into politics, he was involved in...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospital Appointments Administration (6 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for dealing with this matter. The matter I wish to raise relates to work being referred to Cork University Hospital. I will read from something that was sent to me: Two of the large Dublin hospitals, namely St James's & St Vincent's hospitals, are unilaterally imposing very narrow catchment areas and returning letters to GPs with 'Out of Catchment' or...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospital Appointments Administration (6 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: While I fully accept the Minister of State's response and the response from the HSE, the logistics of someone travelling from Wexford to Cork are not practical. The natural area for Wexford should be towards Dublin. The reason I am raising this issue is not so much that I am concerned about patients from Wexford, although I am concerned about them, but rather about the overloading of the...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (6 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: On Tuesday next.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (6 Nov 2014)

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

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (6 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and welcome this legislation. It is extremely complex legislation in the sense that it contains 44 sections and I note it proposes to amend a total of 19 different Acts. I pay tribute to the Minister of State, to the Department of Health and to those involved in drafting this legislation because it was not an easy Bill to draft. It is important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Deep Brain Stimulation Treatment: Discussion (6 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: I thank the deputations for their comprehensive presentations. As someone who had to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment, I have an idea of what it is like. In many ways, it is a lonely journey. A person needs a good deal of support and I fully understand from where people are coming in that regard. The HIQA health technology assessment of 2012 suggested the upfront cost...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: With regard to yesterday's debate, an intern from the US is working in my office at present. His response to yesterday was to ask whether it was the normal way we carry on business in the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: It was wrong it occurred. It sent out the wrong message not only to the Irish people, but also to people abroad. I ask that it never occur again during the lifetime of this Seanad.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Acquired Brain Injuries: Discussion (6 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: On the question I raised of inpatient beds, there are only six such beds. What is Dr. O'Doherty's view in this regard? Is this adequate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Acquired Brain Injuries: Discussion (6 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: If Dr. O'Doherty had a choice in the morning and wished to improve services, what does she think would be the appropriate number of inpatient beds to have for a population of 4.6 million? That is the question I really am asking.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Acquired Brain Injuries: Discussion (6 Nov 2014)

Colm Burke: Some of the questions I intended asking have been asked. I thank the witnesses for their comprehensive presentation. If one were to pick out one area that would have an immediate effect in terms of assisting someone who had a similar experience as they have had if it were prioritised, what would it be? As we heard, acquired brain injury arises not only as a result of road traffic accidents...