Results 10,741-10,760 of 11,632 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (8 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for a very comprehensive reply. It is unfortunate that the Department has issued a letter to state that a qualification from Northern Ireland is termed as a non-Irish qualification. It is unfair and it is not justified. The clarification that such persons can work in the private sector is not what the individual was advised. It is interesting that this clarification...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (8 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: I certainly appreciate the comprehensive reply given by the Minister.

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: I very much welcome this debate and I thank the Leader for his contribution during the debate on the referendum. The number of people who voted to retain the Seanad works out at more than 10,000 votes per Senator, which is equivalent to a quota for a Deputy. It was a substantial vote in favour of keeping the Seanad and we should not forget this. With regard to politics, democracy and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: The referendum issue has been adequately dealt with and there have been very constructive contributions on it this morning. The junior doctors strike is an extremely important and serious issue. Over two years ago I flagged that we would have difficulties in how we would man hospitals because of the large number of Irish graduates leaving the country. Even if the HSE was to decide in the...

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State and support the legislation. It is important we do not lose sight of the fact that county enterprise boards were established to help get small businesses up and running. Let us not lose sight of that goal. Smaller companies employ a large number of people. The boards arose due to an over-reliance on the IDA which focused greatly on the larger companies....

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: Following on from yesterday's debate and Senator O'Brien's contribution this morning, I call on the Leader to raise the following matter with the Minister for Finance. Yesterday, I raised the issue of it not being possible to apply legislation retrospectively, which is an issue in the context of the upward only rent reviews legislation which we debated last night. I would like to suggest a...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank Senator Quinn for introducing this legislation and it is important that Members debate this issue. On the reduction of rents, I note that two years ago, a colleague of mine was in the High Court in respect of a rent review on Grafton Street. My understanding had been that it concerned a lease that had expired and that the tenants were entitled to a new lease. However, on checking...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: This just goes to show the level of reduction on Grafton Street and how the market was affected. This was two years ago and I do not suggest a similar reduction would obtain now, as the position obviously has changed again and rents are moving upwards at present. On the question of introducing legislation and making it retrospective, I have noted a number of times that back in 2004, I was...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: It is an issue about proper planning and whether planning was granted in the absence of demand for the retail space provided.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: I want to pick up on what Senator Eamonn Coghlan said about voting. I was in the top five when our voting records were rated, but that does not put me above any other Senator. I am mindful of the valuable contributions made by Senators Crown, van Turnhout, Gilroy and Henry at meetings of the Joint Committee on Health and Children. It is totally inaccurate and unfair to judge people's...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Rare Diseases Strategy Publication (1 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Alex White. I seek an update on the progress made by the national steering group established in 2011 to address the issue of rare diseases. I was involved when this issue was raised at the time and it is one that has been debated in the House on a number of occasions since. I understand the report of the national steering...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Rare Diseases Strategy Publication (1 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. On the identification of appropriate centres of expertise, will the plan, when published, identify a list of appropriate centres of expertise or will the publication of the plan mark the beginning of such a process?

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2013)

Colm Burke: I join with my colleague, Senator MacSharry, regarding the proposed strike action by junior doctors. It is important that the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, the Health Service Executive, HSE, and the Department of Health engage to try to do everything possible to avoid this strike going ahead. The entire health service as it exists is facing major challenges and any kind of strike action...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2013)

Colm Burke: That means 50% of your members will be gone.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the representatives for their presentations. I would point out to Mr. James Doorley that I started off in politics as a direct result of being on a national executive of a youth organisation. I remember being in Leinster House lobbying to try to retain funding for youth organisations many years ago when youth organisations were only beginning to get some degree of recognition. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome all the organisations and thank them for the work being done. What is the current position of doctors, not only junior doctors but also general practitioners? I have heard of a number of cases where a GP who is not a partner in a practice is having hours cut, with days employed reducing from five to two or three. As a result these doctors are giving notice and emigrating. Has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2013)

Colm Burke: I have a question for Mr. Macey on the obesity issue. I recently spoke to somebody who had addressed a meeting of GP and practice nurses and raised the issue about the importance of GPs giving advice to families on the obesity issue especially regarding young children. The reaction from the audience was not positive. Their attitude was that if GPs raise the issue in their surgeries they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2013)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for meeting us this morning and for the contributions they make on a daily basis to the members of their organisations. In regard to the comparison of home care packages with the fair deal scheme, we will face a serious problem in this country over the next 17 years as the number of people aged over 65 years increases from 500,000 to 900,000. We need to start long-term...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Exchange of Views: Discussion with Turkish Parliamentary Delegation (25 Sep 2013)

Colm Burke: I welcome the delegation. My question is about trade relations between Turkey and the European Union overall. The advantage of trade relations is that dealing in goods between countries can be developed into wider relationships between people. What is the current position as regards access to the European Union market? The EU has trade agreements with China from which we are getting a...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2013)

Colm Burke: It is important to give recognition to the three students from Kinsale, Ciara Judge, Emer Hickey and Sophie Healy-Thow, who won the BT Young Scientist competition in Ireland and went on to win the European Young Scientist Finals. It is important to give recognition to the students and to teachers for their commitment in preparing for the young scientist competition in Ireland and at European...