Results 10,081-10,100 of 11,702 for speaker:Colm Burke

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.

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

Colm Burke: It is only taking ten minutes off the two hours of the other debate.

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

Colm Burke: I move that we continue the debate for an extra ten minutes.

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

Colm Burke: In fairness to Senator Byrne, I only intend to speak for two to three minutes, so I do not think-----

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

Colm Burke: If Opposition Members thought this issue was so important, they would not now be opposing a ten-minute extension.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome today's spring statement by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. Last week, representatives from Comhairle na nÓg and Young Social Innovators visited the Houses and the students who won the Young Scientist of the Year award for 2015 made a presentation to the Joint Committee on Health and Children. These...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: We had a difficult financial position, which we have stabilised. We are now moving on to plan for the future and that is what the statement is about.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - Draft National Reform Programme 2015: Discussion (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Chairman. I focus on health care and my first questions relates to generic drugs substitution, which has been in place for a short time. I have seen three or four sets of figures that have been bandied around. I am not at all convinced that we have done enough. A saving of €50 million last year and €25 million this year has been made by substituting generic for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - Draft National Reform Programme 2015: Discussion (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I raised the arms trade issue. It is a fundamental issue in the whole conflict. Is it on the agenda?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - Draft National Reform Programme 2015: Discussion (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the councillors for their contributions as well as for their work at local and European level, which is much appreciated. My question, specifically to Councillor Maria Byrne, is about the whole structure of Limerick City Council. Limerick city and county are now under one council. People might not be aware that there is greater industrial output in the Cork-Kerry region than in...