Results 10,501-10,520 of 12,035 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (5 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: In fairness, the price increase was 260% before the unemployment figures started to increase. It happened between 2000 and 2008. That was when the big jump occurred - before the unemployment figures and the number of medical cards started to increase. It appears that it was a case of who was prepared to sign the blank cheque. There seems to have been very little control by the HSE and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (5 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I asked a question about the margin between manufacturers and the prices set by the Health Service Executive. On the letter from Alexion, a company that was invited to attend this meeting-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (5 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: The letter states: "Given Alexion would be highly restricted in terms of what we could discuss with regard to pricing negotiations in Ireland as well as our global experience and position, we must respectfully and regretfully decline your invitation at this time." The company clearly does not wish to discuss pricing and the cost of the medication it provides. Is greater transparency needed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (5 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank all of the delegates for their presentations. Mr. O'Sullivan said Healthwave had been set up in 2013. The advantage in setting up then was he knew the market he was going after and he probably set it up cost effectively. I understand there are 1,700 pharmacies in the State, whereas there are only 350 in Denmark. Does he think pharmacies are facing a major challenge, given that a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme (4 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I am raising this matter regarding a drug, Fampyra, which is suitable for some MS patients. I accept fully that it is not suitable for all patients. A number of people have been in contact with me about this. They are paying more than €300 a month for medication. They are not entitled to claim under the drugs payment scheme and I know one of these people is on a medical card and is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme (4 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply. She said discussions are ongoing. Does the Minister of State have any idea when the discussions might conclude or is it very much a case of what progress is made in the coming weeks? Has there been any indication that there will be some progress on the matter?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I agree with Senator Bradford's comments on the self-employed. Many self-employed people who ran small businesses over the past four to five years in difficult financial circumstances continued to pump money in from their savings in order to keep companies going and workers employed, and they made considerable sacrifices. Those who run their own businesses have to pay commercial rates...

Seanad: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (3 Mar 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. I fully support him in bringing forward the legislation and spearheading the issue of plain packaging, which is long overdue. Given that more than 50 years ago a Surgeon General of the US identified that smoking was a real health problem and a real health risk, it has taken us a long time to react. In fairness, many campaigns have been conducted over...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Possible Exit of UK from European Union: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: In the UK elections to the European Parliament, many of the people elected were not pro-Europe to a large extent. If there were a vote in the morning in the UK, it might decide to leave the EU. There will be a long debate on the matter and the UK will seek a very much reformed EU. However, if the UK decided it was not happy with the package being offered, what would be the consequences...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee and commend them on their dedication and commitment. When I first came across this issue three and a half years ago, it was a case of everyone fighting for his or her own corner. It is important that we work together to help families coping with a rare disease. Has the 2011 EU directive on cross-border health care been transposed? I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: I raised the issue of the cross-border health care directive and the treatment abroad office. No one responded to that and it is a big issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: I am aware of that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: Why not set up a more streamlined process for dealing with it? This is where the problem is arising. People are left in mid-air for a quite a long time, not knowing whether they will be able to get the required support for that treatment abroad. I have come across a number of cases where it went around in circles for three or four months, which is unfair to the families and to the patient...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: What about the transposition of the directive and the setting up of structures for dealing with the cross-border care directive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of National Rare Disease Plan 2014-18: Discussion (26 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: Has the EU cross-border health care directive been transposed and have we set up a procedure for its implementation?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Periodic Payment Orders (25 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I raise the issue of legislation relating to periodic payment orders in the context of a recent presentation made to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children by a parent whose child was severely affected by medical negligence. It was clear at the time of the child's birth that she had been badly affected by the manner of her...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Periodic Payment Orders (25 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his extremely comprehensive response. I appreciate very much the work done by him, the Minister and their officials in preparing it. The legislation is the way forward and something we should put in place at an early date. I know, however, that the Minister of State cannot give a timeline. However, will we see the draft legislation before the summer recess?

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: I join my colleague, Senator Michael Comiskey, in welcoming the agreement which has been reached on funding. It is extremely important for the region. I raise the matter of the decision of a legal practice in Dublin to act for the tobacco companies. The same legal practice has the main contract for the Health Service Executive. It is outrageous that two sets of rules are now applied by...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion (25 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after “That Seanad Éireann” and insert: “acknowledges: - the difficulties which overcrowding in emergency departments causes for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances; - that the Government regards the current emergency...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion (25 Feb 2015)

Colm Burke: There were 250,000 more people unemployed.