Results 10,101-10,120 of 11,702 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive presentation. I will focus on one or two points. A recent publication by Dr. Orla Crosbie of Cork University Hospital addressed liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver and how the situation had changed in the past 20 years. Approximately 40% of patients in these categories now are female whereas there would have been few or no female patients 20...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I ask about the timeframe. The Minister has said that section 9 of the 2008 Act cannot be implemented. My understanding is that section 9 is quite specific and that the Act contains provisions whereby if there is any breach of the legislation, fines can be imposed. I do not understand why it cannot be implemented. It may be looking for too much from retail outlets. However, if we get the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Alcohol Consumption: BT Young Scientist Winners (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Ian and Eimear for their presentation this morning. When I proposed to the committee that it invite them after they won the Young Scientist of the Year Award I did not think it would be on the same day that the Minister came here. They can see how significant their research is for framing policy. This shows the influence their work can have. It deserves the recognition it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Alcohol Consumption: BT Young Scientist Winners (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: Did an awareness of the risks arise at all in the survey? Were people aware of the health risks and was that seen as an issue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Alcohol Consumption: BT Young Scientist Winners (23 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: Was there any indication at all of awareness of risk?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: The front page of the Irish Examinertoday includes an article about the dangers of purchasing medications online, including a slimming medicine containing the highly toxic substance, dinitrophenol, or DNP, which was implicated in the death of a young girl in England in recent weeks. Many people make purchases online but when it comes to medication, including slimming aids, it is important to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Alcohol Sales Legislation (21 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. The issue I raise is the failure to commence section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 which provides that premises selling alcohol and other goods must establish a separate area for the sale of alcohol, including a separate entrance inside the premises. The section has not been commenced. High levels of alcohol consumption are causing significant...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Alcohol Sales Legislation (21 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for a very comprehensive reply. The legislation was enacted in 2008, but seven years later no regulation has been put in place to implement it. I acknowledge that the Minister and the Government are working on the best way forward, but it might be helpful if the timeline was clarified. It is one thing to publish the Bill, but there is a need for a timeline for...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I join my colleagues who have raised the issue of the crisis in the Mediterranean.The sinking of the Titanic occurred 103 years ago yesterday. A great number of people lost their lives in that tragedy. Many more people are now losing their lives in the crossing from North Africa to Europe. We have questions to answer on issues such as the arms trade. Many of these conflicts are fuelled by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Possible Exit of UK from European Union: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Professor Todd for the paper she presented. A report was published recently which discussed the knock-on economic effect on Ireland of a British exit from the EU. We are now talking about a lot of ifs, as the UK may decide to do certain things rather than actually leaving, and may go down a road of reduced involvement. Is there not then a reason for us now to start looking at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Intellectual Disability and Ageing: Discussion (16 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Professor McCarron for her presentation and for all the work that everyone has done in this area. It is important that all the issues are examined, especially in respect of people with intellectual disabilities. How many people with intellectual disabilities are affected? How many are looked after at home with the support of the health services and how many are in full-time...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Intellectual Disability and Ageing: Discussion (16 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: What numbers are we talking about? Professor McCarron referred to 67%. Do we have any idea of the numbers?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Intellectual Disability and Ageing: Discussion (16 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: On the co-ordination of services, I asked about local authorities and all other services. There is no single co-ordinator. The health service is doing it but we are also talking about housing, health care, support care and physical care such as physiotherapy and so forth. There is co-ordination in certain areas but not in terms of an overall package. Have the witnesses dealt with any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Intellectual Disability and Ageing: Discussion (16 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I would like to raise a further question. I apologise for raising the issue of the local authorities once more. Under the Disability Act 2005, a local authority that does not have an access officer is in breach of legislation. I know of a local authority that has posted on its website that it is pleased to advise that it has two access officers. I have spent eight weeks trying to find out...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: To reply to the previous speaker, there are 22,000 fair deal beds, not 7,000. The Senator's information is totally incorrect.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I can give the Senator the reply. There are 22,000 beds and it is costing €970 million per year. They are the figures. The Senator has incorrect figures so he should check them. That is the first point. Second, with regard to the fair deal scheme, it is interesting to note that the scheme involves 80% of people's income and 7.5% of people's assets, to a maximum cap of three years....

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2015)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise the issue of the housing budget. I welcome the announcement that in Cork city and county over €205 million has been allocated for the period 2015-17. It is very welcome that an extra 2,500 houses or apartments will be built and made available. However, I have concerns about the ability of local authorities to be able to respond to the funding. My concern arises with...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Nursing Staff Recruitment (31 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for coming into the House to deal with this matter. The issue I raise concerns the training courses available for nurses who have trained abroad but who now wish to return here. I am led to believe that the number of courses available in recent years has been cut back and that the number available is inadequate. Currently, Irish nursing homes have over 500 vacancies...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Nursing Staff Recruitment (31 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I am aware of that. The issue that must be dealt with is increasing the number of places on the adaption courses for nurses who have trained abroad but who wish to work here to allow them go through the training process and then become available to work in Irish hospitals and nursing homes. The other issue facing nursing homes is that many of the nurses working in them are taking on jobs in...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Nursing Staff Recruitment (31 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for the reply. I note there is an acceptance that there is a need for additional training positions. It is a major problem within nursing homes. It is also a major problem within hospitals. Some Irish nurses contacted me recently who trained in the United Kingdom and who returned to Ireland. They applied in early December to register but ten weeks later they were...