Results 10,341-10,360 of 12,035 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Pregnancy Folic Acid Supplementation: Discussion (25 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Professor Turner for his comprehensive presentation. He spoke about the inconsistent guidance nationally and internationally. Is that likely to be resolved and if so when will the information be given out? He said that the decrease over five years was more likely to occur in women who had children before, who were aged between 30 and 39 years, who were obese and who had been born...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Pregnancy Folic Acid Supplementation: Discussion (25 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: To return to the GP issue and their reluctance to discuss the issue of obesity, it may not be a problem in Dublin but it is a problem in rural areas. The study done by the people who won the Young Scientist competition this year examined the relationship between being overweight and excessive drinking. We seem to have failed to get that message out there that excessive drinking and being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Affordable High-Quality Child Care: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I understand there will also be a vote in the Seanad shortly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Affordable High-Quality Child Care: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I will be brief. Many of the issues I intended to raise have been raised. However, there is the issue of commercial rates in respect of child care facilities and the cost to the facility. On the one hand the Department is disbursing money to the facility and, on the other, a local authority takes it back. Can that issue be tackled, and speedily? It is extremely important. The other...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospitals Building Programme (24 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise an issue I have raised previously in regard to identifying a site in Cork for a new hospital. We have three main hospitals in Cork, the South Infirmary, the Mercy University Hospital and Cork University Hospital. It is accepted that both the Mercy hospital and the South Infirmary have little space to expand to provide additional services and there is a need to identify a new...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospitals Building Programme (24 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for the reply and dealing with the matter in detail. I am concerned that the Minister and the Department would not have a direct role. The Minister is the person who develops policy. We are discussing reconfiguring the Mercy University Hospital and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, which is accepted by everybody. However, we also need to...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise two matters. Following on from Senator Bradford's contribution about nursing homes, the annual cost for the fair deal scheme is €993 million or very close to €1 billion. I have highlighted this issue previously in the House. We face major long-term challenges in this regard. Every year more than 20,000 people will reach the age of 65 and the number of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Country Specific Recommendations 2015 (Ireland): Discussion (18 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Coffey for his presentation. He referred in his presentation to the cost of pharmaceutical products, which increased from €570 million a year in 2000 to €2 billion by 2010, a huge increase. No checks and balances seem to have been applied. Legislation on the use of generic drugs has been introduced and we are moving closer to the same usage ratio as in the UK....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Jury Service (18 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I have been asked to raise this matter by a prosecuting counsel who works for the State in criminal cases. It relates to jury service and the difficulties in some areas where the required number of jurors is not available. What has caused concern are two recent cases which took a great deal of time to run; the Ian Bailey and Graham Dwyer cases. In one case, the jurors sat for more than 60...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Jury Service (18 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State. He might clarify whether there is any timeframe for the juries Bill. Will we see it before the end of the Government's term or will it be published in the next Government's term?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Affordable High-Quality Child Care: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their comprehensive presentations. I apologise for having to leave for a time to participate in a Commencement debate in the Seanad. One of the points that struck me when listening to the presentations is that what is lacking in this area is long-term planning. We need to set out a five-year and ten-year programme showing where we are at and where...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I think we should have a debate on the report on the cost of medical indemnity insurance, in relation to the medical profession, which was launched by the Joint Committee on Health and Children this morning. The major problems being faced by people who are working in the private health care sector in this country mean that some positions cannot be filled. The annual professional indemnity...

Seanad: Tackling Obesity in Ireland: Statements (17 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: We are facing major problems in this country and I agree with what the Minister had to say about the World Health Organization. We have a growing problem and, while we seem to have been able to get to grips with the health problems caused by smoking, obesity is now our most serious problem. It has moved ahead of smoking as an issue. Some 61% of Irish adults are overweight or obese and one...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I join colleagues in conveying condolences to the families who have lost a son or daughter. I also express my condolences to those who have suffered serious injury and to their parents and families. I thank the Department of Foreign Affairs for being so proactive in helping the families. It is extremely important that families get every possible support at this time. I join Senator Bacik...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for bringing forward this Bill to introduce GP cards for the over-70s who are beneath a certain income level, which is €36,400 per annum. That is substantial income and the threshold for a couple would be €72,000. Some 36,000 people will benefit from the introduction of this Bill. The scheme will also be rolled out...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

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

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Affordable High-Quality Child Care: Discussion (11 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their very comprehensive presentations. Having been in the private sector for many years, I am well aware of the issues associated with running any business. Ms Michele Akerlind referred to rates of €13,000 per annum. That works out at €250 per week, which is quite a lot of money. With regard to the cost of providing services, I am not looking for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Dublin Dental University Hospital: Chairman Designate (11 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Nolan for his presentation and congratulate him on his appointment. I wish him every success in it. Can I flag up two issues with him in view of his presentation? If I am out of order the Chairman may say so. In his submission, Mr. Nolan said it is important to ensure that there is equivalence of treatment for all those eligible for health service-provided dental care in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: St. James's Hospital, Dublin: Chairman Designate (11 Jun 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Donnelly for his detailed submission. His curriculum vitae is highly impressive. I congratulate him on his achievements to date and wish him well in his new role. I will raise two issues of great relevance to the health service. Mr. Donnelly has acquired considerable experience in technology, an area in which health service has not been heavily involved. I understand, for...