Results 10,341-10,360 of 11,285 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Information and Quality Authority Corporate Plan 2013-2015: Discussion (26 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I apologise for having to leave this meeting early, but I must raise an issue on the Adjournment in the Seanad. I thank Mr. McEnery for his presentation. I wish him every success in his role as chairperson of the authority. I believe HIQA is playing an important part in setting standards and making sure they are implemented. The question I would like to raise relates to an important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Prevention and Treatment of Lyme Disease: Discussion (21 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for the very good presentations. I grew up on a farm and this reminds me of the time in the 1970s when people working on farms were being diagnosed with brucellosis, particularly chronic brucellosis. At the time, it took GPs some time to become familiar with the symptoms of this disease and from what the witnesses have said, their experience sounds very much like that....

Seanad: Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for his comments. I also wish to thank Senators who have contributed to this debate, including Senators Naughton, Ó Murchú, Bacik, van Turnhout, Barrett and Ó Clochartaigh, for their constructive comments. This is only the start of the process and I fully agree with what the Minister said in that regard. He said the legislation we enact must put in place...

Seanad: Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday, 26 November 2013.

Seanad: Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to the House and thank him for taking the time to deal with this matter today. I also thank the Minister for the work he has done to date in regard to reform in our legal process. Substantial reforms have been made in the past two and a half years and it is important we would...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I want to raise an issue of concern in regard to questions that are put down in the health committee when I am looking for answers in the public interest. In September I put down a question in regard to section 38 and 39 organisations which are receiving funding from the HSE and the Department of Health. Over €3.4 billion of the health budget is paid out to 2,680 organisations and I...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (14 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I apologise for not being in attendance for the presentation of the Minister of State. Unfortunately, the Joint Committee on Health and Children was meeting to deal with end-of-life issues in the last of a series of such meetings. In this regard, we are dealing to an extent with the end of life of companies. I welcome the Bill. One of the problems we have had with commercial law in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: End-of-Life Care: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank all the witnesses for their presentations but also for their dedication and commitment to the work they are doing. It is important that we give recognition to the important part they play in this country's health service. I come from a legal background and many of the issues raised touch on the legal area. I listened to what Dr. King said about not doing resuscitation but an issue...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: End-of-Life Care: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: There may well also be a vote in the Seanad on the Order of Business.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Business of Joint Committee (14 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: One of the major problems in regard to the provision of health care in this country has been the total lack of planning. A simple example of this can be seen in the figures relating to dialysis services. There are more than 1,800 people receiving dialysis at this time, which equates to some 250,000 appointments in real terms, or 20% of day care procedures in the State. In Norway, by...

Seanad: Science Week: Statements (12 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, to the House. I attended a conference this morning in the Rotunda Hospital at which he delivered a very good and detailed contribution. The area of medical research is very relevant to our discussion today. This country can have an important part to play in progressing developments in this area and devising new solutions to medical...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I remind Senator Mark Daly when his party left office that 7,000 jobs per month were being lost; at the moment 3,000 jobs per month are being created.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I join my colleagues in commenting on the issue of Newbridge credit union. While there is a need for a debate there is also a need to reassure the general public that credit unions are a good place in which to have investments. They have served local communities well down through the years and will continue to serve them. I do not want a situation to arise where there is scaremongering...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: End-of-Life Care: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I want to come back to the area of care assistants, which I accept is a very specialised one. I was involved with a community hospital that wanted to take on people under the JobBridge programme but was told that regulations did not allow it. In fairness, the hospital wrote to the Minister, who changed the regulation. The whole reason the community hospital wanted to take on people under...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: End-of-Life Care: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: An issue I am dealing with is that of rare diseases, in which regard I had to write to 41 organisations. This is slightly different from the area in which the delegates are involved, but I am trying to co-ordinate them in order that they can work towards improving the services required. They have dealt comprehensively with how they co-ordinate their services, which is very welcome. That is...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I would like to pick up on what Senator MacSharry had to say. I agree with him that there is a need for a major debate on the health sector. Over the last two months, discussions on health issues have been personalised by the focus on the Minister. I think there should be a focus on long-term planning and on the real issues. Even though over €2.5 billion has been cut from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: End-of-Life Care: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: At our last meeting with Mr. Tony O'Brien we raised the possibility of providing a 12 month rather than six month emergency card.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: End-of-Life Care: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: Mr. O'Brien said he would consider it.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for the comprehensive way in which she has dealt with this matter. It is difficult to try to bring forward reform when dealing with this matter and to try to be fair but I believe the Minister has done a good job in this regard. I welcome the development on the issue of insurance. I do not believe taxpayers should be responsible for paying out wages and salaries in real...