Results 10,581-10,600 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I am surprised at the comments of the Leader of the Opposition this morning. He referred to the delaying of legislation. It is 21 years since the X case judgment was given. When Fianna Fáil was in power, it did absolutely nothing about it.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

Colm Burke: The Opposition should not criticise the delay in the legislation when it did nothing in 21 years.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

Colm Burke: On this issue, there have been three days of public consultations and we face another three. It will be interesting to see who will be around at 7.45 p.m. on Friday and Monday nights during the consultations. We are to have legislation in this area and will ensure it is passed by the end of this term. To suggest we are rushing legislation through is totally incorrect. I welcome the Higgins...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I raise the issue of the Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill, which I have published, and do so in regard to the recent case in County Tipperary of a person who had been missing for two years whose remains were found in a slurry tank. This highlights the situation that where a body is not found a death certificate cannot be issued and nothing can be done with a person's estate until a period of...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Motion (8 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his contribution. Others have raised the issue of domestic violence and abuse. However, there is another type of abuse, namely, the abuse of the courts system. I have witnessed this as a practising solicitor. I am familiar with a case in which there are more than 25 court orders and the case is ongoing. This problem is particularly acute in cases where...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I remind the other side that in 2003 the Hanly report clearly set out that-----

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I am simply reminding the Senator of it. I will come to the Order of Business. The report clearly set out that by 2012 there would be 3,600 consultants in the country, up from 1,700. At the moment there are 2,500, which is 1,100 short. That is the first point. The second point is that since we have come into power we have provided an additional 251,000 medical cards. By the end of 2013...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Colm Burke: The question for the Leader relates to the debate earlier today with the Commissioner. She referred to Horizon 2020. I raised the issue of medical research. Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister present on the Horizon 2020 programme and how we, as a country, can get the maximum benefit from the research funding available under that programme? Following the comments of the...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (8 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Commissioner. It was interesting that she referred to women in science. It is important we highlight the benefits of research and development. Today is ovarian cancer day, to raise awareness of that issue. In the last two months, research funding of €6 million was announced for investigation of pre-eclampsia, to which a quarter of all maternity deaths in Europe can be...

Seanad: EU Scrutiny Work Programme 2013: Motion (7 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I am in favour of this proposal as put forward by the Leader of the House. We have the proposal from the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs on this matter. It is important that any proposals coming from Europe are highlighted at an early stage here in order that we know what is coming down the road, not only today but what may be coming in the next two or three years. While joint...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I refer to the European Movement report published today which indicates the attendance of Irish Ministers at EU meetings has increased dramatically and is now at 97%. Ireland is joint second for attendance at all EU meetings dealing with EU affairs. The report also indicates that, out of the 20 committees in the European Parliament, Ireland has an MEP on only 14, leaving six committees with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Accountability in the EU: Discussion with Minister of State (7 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. I attended the launch of the European Movement's Accountability Report for 2012 this morning which shows that the average Irish ministerial attendance at meetings for 2012 increased by 11%. In fact, we are now at 97%, coming in joint second, which is very welcome and demonstrates the commitment of the Minister of State and the Government. Irish attendance...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: HSE Properties (2 May 2013)

Colm Burke: It appears from this reply that there is no plan by the HSE to use the site itself. I am concerned that it has been vacant for more than 20 years, which the Minister of State confirmed. Much time has been lost. Will the residents of the area have to sit this out for another 20 years, particularly if the HSE has no immediate proposal to put the site to any useful purpose itself?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: HSE Properties (2 May 2013)

Colm Burke: My Adjournment matter concerns property owned by the HSE, formerly owned by the Southern Health Board, which has been vacant for over 20 years. It is in the middle of a residential area. It is an eyesore and as I understand it, the HSE has no immediate proposals for it, unless something has changed in the past two or three months. I was at a meeting of residents in the area on Tuesday...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Marian Harkin, MEP (2 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome Ms Harkin. I learned a lot from her during my brief period in the European Parliament. I am delighted to hear that she is involved in the globalisation fund because it played an important part in the Limerick and Waterford regions. I remember dealing with the fund when a problem arose in these areas. The lack of knowledge of the existence of the fund - even the Government of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2013)

Colm Burke: It is cattle as well.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Planning Issues (1 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State. If I give her details of the project I am concerned about it could be followed up because I am not satisfied that the local authority has not responded to my query. This is a major development of over 160 units and I am not satisfied that Part V has been complied with. When I see it being offered for sale to outside investors I want to make sure that the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Planning Issues (1 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. I wish to raise the issue of Part V compliance. I know of a number of projects that did not comply with Part V when a company went into liquidation. There is a difference between going into liquidation and entering NAMA. In this case Ulster Bank is involved but is not part of the NAMA process. I was concerned to find that the properties are fully...

Seanad: Charities Regulation: Motion (1 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister. I also welcome the motion on what is an important issue when one takes into account the fact that there are more than 8,000 charities operating in Ireland which employ and benefit many people. They make a huge contribution to society. However, we do not have a regulator. Coming from a legal background and having worked with voluntary organisations for more than 30...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Nessa Childers, MEP (1 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank Ms Childers for her contribution here today. I wish to touch on the role of medical practitioners in this country and how we as a country seem to be going outside Europe to recruit doctors. I think we now have the highest number of doctors from outside the EU compared to any other country in Europe and are taking them from countries that need to retain their own doctors. I also...