Results 10,581-10,600 of 11,285 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Colm Burke: My question is for Mr. O’Brien and the Minister. The second issue I raised was about a forum on elderly care involving various groups. The question was not answered and I seek a response.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister and his officials for their presentations. The shortage of junior doctors is an issue I have been dealing with for the past two years. In the question I submitted for this morning's meeting, I referred to the fact that more than 4,000 junior doctors are on six-month contracts only. In 2011, we had a major crisis in regard to junior doctors. Two years later, however,...

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I need clarification on a few points but I know that he may not be able to provide that today. We should change the guidelines covering drugs that cost over €140 per month. The Danes have introduced a patient medication card system. The card is the size of a visa card and prescriptions no longer need to be handed out. A GP can access...

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Colm Burke: When somebody comes into a hospital which has a budget for the purchase of drugs and it gives a prescription to the patient who is then required to go to the local pharmacist to purchase his or her drugs and go back into the hospital for treatment, that is an additional cost to the Department's budget and needs to be examined.

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the amendment. It is important when we are considering legislation that we take on board not only the person receiving the medication but also the wider view on the general public. This amendment is a welcome addition to the Bill.

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Colm Burke: This legislation is long overdue. To comment generally on this matter, it is also interesting that the recent survey by the National Consumer Agency, NCA, is frightening in that there is a huge variation in what pharmacies are charging. In one case the lowest price for a drug was €16.62 while the highest price was €49.69 for the same quantity, a difference of 199%. There is...

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his explanation. It is extremely important that we move forward at a reasonably fast pace in dealing with the matter as we are already way behind the rest of Europe with the availability of generic drugs. The cost of medication and drugs has increased from €574 million in 2000 to more than €2 billion, which is all the more...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2013)

Colm Burke: It is important that we come back to reality. We are paying out €50 million in social welfare every day. That is the reality. Since we started here this morning, €2.5 million has been paid out in social welfare.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2013)

Colm Burke: It relates to Apple and the contribution the company has made. Apple is not only paying 12.5% corporation tax. It is also paying commercial rates, VAT and all of the other taxes. The company also pays ESB when it purchases electricity. It pays for the employment it provides. If Senators want to have a debate on this matter, let us have a debate but let us also take into account the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2013)

Colm Burke: -----rather than spending the time here discussing this issue.

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...