Results 10,961-10,980 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Youth Services (18 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address my query about the Cork Life Centre. I had raised the matter previously with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the reply I received was incomplete, as, unfortunately, I believe she was not provided with the full information on the centre. This centre caters for young people aged between 12 and 18 who have dropped...

Seanad: Youth Services (18 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I am somewhat concerned about some of the information in the reply - for instance the reference to the VEC. The 960 VES hours equates to 1.5 teachers in real terms. The VEC has indicated it cannot guarantee that it will be able to provide those hours next year. I am surprised at the 2,768 hours the Minister of State mentioned. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I support the call by Senator Ivana Bacik for a debate on the reform of the sale-of-alcohol legislation. The National Suicide Research Foundation published a timely report today that showed 78% of 190 people who committed suicide in the Cork region had abused alcohol in the preceding 12 months. Some 35% had abused both alcohol and drugs in the preceding 12 months. The report shows a direct...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: The Senator should check the report.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: There is a connection.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: Ireland will hold the EU Presidency from 1 January 2013, and it is appropriate to set aside time in early September to consider the programme in which we will be involved. It would be useful to get the views of Senators on what we should focus on during this major opportunity to sell the advantages of Ireland over six months. Some 26 other member states will come here on a regular basis and...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I also thank Senator Rónán Mullen and other colleagues for organising the event held this morning. It is interesting to deal with this issue. Figures were published in recent days on the perinatal mortality rate. We have made significant advances in this country in the past ten years. The figures are clear. There were 58,261 births in the country in 2001. The perinatal mortality rate...

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the initiative taken by Senators MacSharry and Crown in introducing the Bill. It is important that we debate the issue but I am concerned about the Bill. Section 3 states: "The Health Service Executive shall ensure that all prescribed medicinal products necessary for the treatment of cancer, as approved by the European Medicines Agency, are...

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I mentioned section 3.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: On a point of order-----

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I would like to raise an issue.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: Senator Mooney is referring to section 5 of the Bill. There is no cross-reference-----

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: The Senator is giving incorrect information.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: There is no reference to section 3.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: That is what this Bill does.

Seanad: European Arrest Warrant (Application to Third Countries and Amendment) and Extradition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (10 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome this legislation because it is important that we provide support to the system, not only in our own jurisdiction but in other jurisdictions where offences have been committed and where there is clear evidence of same. The Minister gave a very comprehensive overview of the Bill this evening. We received 284 warrant requests last year and...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I join with my colleagues, Senator O'Donovan and Senator Whelan, in expressing concern about the trainee pilots. Eighty-five thousand euro is a great deal of money for people to invest only to find they are keeping their side of the bargain but the people who agree to provide the training are not keeping their side of the bargain. It is important that there is a full investigation into this...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I received a letter from a constituent of the Leas-Cathaoirleach's yesterday. He raised the issue of trying to get visas for people who are very highly qualified and that we cannot get people with that qualification to come to work here. He pointed out that there are more than 20,000 jobs vacant here because we do not have the people with the required qualifications. It is time we examined...

Seanad: Flood Relief (5 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I raised a concern last week that insurance companies are tending to drag out the payment of any compensation to householders and businesses. I suggested that as a minimum, every insurance company should pay out a sum of €3,000 within 14 days from the date of receiving a claim form, in order to tide people over. It is a very small amount but...

Seanad: Flood Relief (5 Jul 2012)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise the issue of the recent flooding in Cork city, particularly in Blackpool, north central Cork, which is an old part of the city, Park Court in Ballyvolane and Meadow Brook, Riverstown, which is in the county area. In the first instance, I thank the local authorities for the manner in which they responded to the emergencies that arose. In particular, I thank Cork city and...