Results 10,561-10,580 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2013)

Colm Burke: It is about time the Senators came back to reality.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (21 May 2013)

Colm Burke: Thank you, Chairman, for the way you have managed the public hearings. They have been extremely well organised and conducted. I thank you and the staff for the work done. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, and thank him for his contribution this evening. I came to the hearings with reservations concerning two issues. I felt we had not done all of our homework on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (21 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I refer to maternity care. It must be acknowledged we have one of the lowest perinatal mortality rates in Europe, which is a tribute to the medical profession. I would not like the wrong impression to be given out today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (21 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I ask Dr. Fletcher to expand on the issue of lethal abnormality. I understand that under Article 40.3.3° the life of the unborn is protected. If the unborn has only the prospect of surviving one second after being born, the legal position is that the pregnancy cannot be terminated. Dr. Fletcher seems to have a different view and I would like her to clarify that issue. Ms McDonagh...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (21 May 2013)

Colm Burke: The question I put to Professor Binchy was what legislation is currently in place where we can put in regulations and guidelines?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (21 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank each of the panel for coming forward and giving evidence today. Professor Binchy and Dr. Cahill expressed dissatisfaction with the X case judgment and referenced Cosma v. Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In the X case a psychologist report was produced while in the case of Cosma v. Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform there were two psychiatric reports...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (21 May 2013)

Colm Burke: My question to Ms Caroline Simons was to clarify under what legislation guidelines can be brought in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (21 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank each of the panel this morning for their constructive contributions. First, I want to ask Dr. Mills and Mr. O'Connor about the issue of where the expectant mother is under 18 years of age. The question at present is that the heads of the Bill are silent on dealing with that issue. Is it their view, when three medical persons come to a conclusion no matter what way we structure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the delegations for their contributions today. My first question is for Mr. Saunders in respect of head 4 of the Bill. I have raised this with several people already. The Medical Council and the Royal College of Psychiatrists of Ireland are suggesting that the heads of the Bill provide that three people would sign off on the issue in respect of where there is suicidal intent,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: In respect of people under 18 years, what structure would Mr. Saunders like to have put in place to deal with that issue in the proposed legislation? Mr. Saunders is right. The heads of the Bill are silent on that issue and it is an important point that he has raised. The third question is for Dr. Janice Walshe. She suggested that two people should sign off in respect of the area that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: It is important to clarify that the master of the Coombe hospital was invited before us, together with the representatives of the other hospitals, on Friday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: People from six hospitals gave evidence on Friday. There has been criticism about the lack of legislation and it is important to refer to the judgment in the X case, particularly on page 82 of the judgment, where Mr. Justice McCarthy criticised the Legislature for not putting in place laws. The eighth amendment to the Constitution "guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the psychiatrists for their contributions. I want to raise the issue of their submission about the GP and the psychiatrist taking the decision on the psychiatric issue. The heads of the Bill refer to a joint decision between two psychiatrists and an obstetrician. The Medical Council talks about the two psychiatrists taking the decision and then the consultation with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank all of the contributors this morning. The submission on the role of psychiatrists in making the decision is in line with the Medical Council’s proposed amendment under head 4, which was presented to us on Friday, namely, that the psychiatrists would sign off on the psychiatric issue and then there would be consultation with the obstetricians. Do psychiatrists feel that GPs...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (17 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank all of the witnesses for their contributions today. I want to raise an issue in relation to the submission by the Irish Medical Council this morning. The IMC is at variance with a proposal in the heads of the Bill. Its proposal is that the text in head 4(1)(b) should be amended to read: two psychiatrists, have, in accordance with this head, jointly certified in good faith that-(i)...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (17 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their detailed and constructive submissions. Professor Murphy of the Irish Medical Council spoke about a proposed amendment to head 4, an issue I mentioned this morning. He suggests two psychiatrists should sign off and then consult the obstetrician, whereas the head proposes that the three sign off. He obviously has very strong views on the matter and I know some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (17 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the delegation. I have two questions. First, section 1(b) in head 4 calls for an obstetrician and two psychiatrists. A question arises as to whether an obstetrician is competent to make a decision on a psychiatric issue. For example, the evidence of an obstetrician on a psychiatric issue would not be accepted in the High Court. Should two psychiatrists make the decision and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (17 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I am sorry; yes. I was referring to the X case, which involved a 14 year old.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Jim Higgins, MEP (16 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome Mr. Jim Higgins, MEP. In a sense it is a welcome home, given that he spent a number of years in the Seanad. He made a valuable contribution during his time in both the Dáil and the Seanad. I also thank him for his assistance during my brief period in the European Parliament. Working there with him and his staff and all of the Irish MEPs was a huge learning exercise for me....

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2013)

Colm Burke: The health committee will hold hearings in the Seanad Chamber on Friday from 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and likewise on Monday and Tuesday next week. More than 36 medical professionals will give evidence. I know that Members may be inconvenienced because the Seanad is not sitting on Tuesday but it is important for continuity that the hearings are held on successive days. Last January, the health...