Results 10,201-10,220 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: His contribution to family law over the past 30 years should not be left unnoticed because he has been one of the biggest contributors to reform in that area. It is something we should not ignore. Major changes have been made in this area

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: As Minister for Justice and Equality, he has also brought forward many changes in that area, which we should not forget. It is important that this recognition is given. I believe domestic violence, particularly the number of serious incidents in private settings in the past two months, is frightening. The number of stabbings and murders is frightening and is something at which we need to...

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: That will take years.

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: There is plenty of work for five years.

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: It was the Senator's Government that put them in place.

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after “Seanad Éireann” and substitute the following: “notes that – in line with the commitments in the Programme for Government 2011-16, the Government: - is progressing the recommendations of A Vision for Change, including reducing the stigma of mental illness, ensuring early and appropriate intervention and...

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: There are certain areas where we need to make sure we get qualified people to fill the posts. We need consultant psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and social care workers. That is what the teams consist of and all of those posts cannot be filled in all cases. However, the Minister of State is...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: I want to raise some more mundane issues which are important to us as taxpayers. A recent report in a Sunday newspaper indicated that the legislation put in place to deal with the cost of drugs is not having an effect or benefit. It is of concern that we are spending over €2 billion per annum on drugs and pharmaceutical products, three to four, and in some cases, five times above the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Closure of Mount Carmel Hospital: Discussion (18 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: In his presentation, the Minister mentioned the hospital being used as a step-down facility. Have we advanced that research at this stage? A recent report indicated that people with dementia who are returning home had an average stay in hospital of 22 days, whereas those who were getting nursing home places had an average stay in hospital of 59 days. In view of that, there is an urgent...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Closure of Mount Carmel Hospital: Discussion (18 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: The letter from the National Asset Management Agency states neither of the two bids was viable and both were heavily conditional as they involved low up-front payments and deferred unsecured payments. Were staff given details of the two proposals at any stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Closure of Mount Carmel Hospital: Discussion (18 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: Was the INMO aware of the conditions of purchase?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Closure of Mount Carmel Hospital: Discussion (18 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: I will be brief. I thank the witnesses for their attendance and, like my colleagues, acknowledge it is a difficult time for staff who made a huge commitment there in the provision of health care for many years. It is not easy for anyone who is dedicated and committed to his or her job to suddenly find one's employment changes overnight without any warning. I have examined the affidavit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: How can someone acquire a right if that product causes death?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: My argument concerns whether one can acquire a right when the product one is selling causes death.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: I want to come back to the question of clear evidence. If there is clear evidence that a product is causing death, how can the manufacturers of that product acquire a right? That question needs to be dealt with from a legal point of view. I do not understand how such a company can acquire a right. All the evidence confirms that this product is causing death.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: First, I had better declare my interest in that I am a member of the Law Society. I wish to raise the issue of property rights in terms of where the State is taking action that involves public health. Submissions the committee received over the past number of weeks clearly indicate that 5,000 people are dying per annum as a direct result of smoking. I stated this morning that since the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: That is not true.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: There is a quote about the Charter of Fundamental Rights. What specific aspect of that charter is Mr. Meagher saying we will infringe if we go ahead with this legislation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: Thank you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Colm Burke: Is there not an argument that the State also has an obligation to protect the health of citizens, which takes priority over property rights?