Results 10,621-10,640 of 11,285 for speaker:Colm Burke

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...

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

Colm Burke: Ms Childers is very welcome to the Seanad. I agree with her views on Seanad reform and I have been arguing the same case for the past two years. I will refer to Europe's role in the area of medicine, the role it is playing and the role it can play. I was in the European Parliament for two years, a brief time, but at the time the internal market committee dealt with the cross-border health...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the decision by the Government yesterday in regard to proceeding with the publication of the heads of the protection of life during pregnancy Bill. I agree with Senator O'Brien that it is important that there be a reasoned debate on this matter. I know some Senators, such as Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, have very strong views and I very much respect those views....

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Pat The Cope Gallagher, MEP (25 Apr 2013)

Colm Burke: The second matter is the issue of whether, in the case of proposed European directives and regulations, more should be done about analysis here. I suggested that the Seanad would set aside two days a month to go through regulations and directives much more comprehensively than is being done. There was a recent example in the Joint Committee on Health and Children where the committee was...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Pat The Cope Gallagher, MEP (25 Apr 2013)

Colm Burke: Those are the two questions I want to ask. I wish to know, in view of Mr. Gallagher's involvement here, both in government and in dealing with the Seanad, whether the Seanad could play a more active role in working with MEPs and in looking at EU directives and regulation.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Pat The Cope Gallagher, MEP (25 Apr 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome Mr. Gallagher to the House and pay tribute to the work he has done in the fisheries area. As one who served as a substitute member on the fisheries committee, I know full well the amount of work involved. I owe him an apology as it was agreed that the fisheries committee would visit Ireland in 2008 or early 2009. His colleague, Mr. Seán Ó Neachtáin, was also a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Organ Donation: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Apr 2013)

Colm Burke: I just wanted to hear the answer. I will skip it if I have to.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Organ Donation: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Apr 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank all the contributors for their excellent presentations this morning. I have learned a great deal from them. Has there been any discussion of providing one transplant unit for the country among the medical profession, the HSE and the Department of Health? The need for a long-term plan has been highlighted. I have a serious problem with the way the HSE is dealing with the general...

Seanad: Financial Stability and Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Apr 2013)

Colm Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Financial Stability and Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Apr 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome the Bill put forward by Senator Barrett. As someone who has also published a Private Members' Bill, I know the amount of work involved. This area is extremely complex and this is a very well researched and drafted document, on which I compliment him. He raises the very important issue of whether we learnt lessons from what has...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2013)

Colm Burke: Could I comment briefly on the proposed legislation on the X case? It is important to realise that the comments that have been made recently about the requirement for six consultants is not a practical proposal. I do not think it was ever on the table. It is amazing how speculation can go wild on occasion. Of the 18 maternity hospitals, 11 of them have only three obstetricians, which...