Results 11,001-11,020 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Payment of Awards (16 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I apologise for keeping him in the House for so long this evening. My Adjournment matter concerns the issuance of lump sum awards and the payment of awards by instalment. This matter arises in relation to the Quirke report which arose from an expert group that was set up in 2010 to give advice on this matter. This question arose recently in...

Seanad: Symphysiotomy: Statements (16 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister and thank her for her comprehensive overview of this issue. I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this important debate. It is necessary that the House recognises the pain and distress which have been suffered and continue to be suffered by women as a result of symphysiotomy procedures which were carried out in Irish hospitals. It is interesting to read a...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise the matter of young people who have dropped out of school. On Monday I had the pleasure of launching a website for the Cork Life Centre whereby 30 young people are being provided with education and skills training, bringing them back into the education system. In fairness, it is a religious order which has been providing the funding for this project in recent years. There...

Seanad: Water Conservation (15 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I wish to raise an issue in respect of the water supply scheme for Glantane, Lombardstown and Lahern. There have been many problems with the scheme for a long number of years and over the past 12 months in particular. Since January of this year, a number of sections of the scheme have been closed down and a large number of houses have been left without water for up to a week at a time....

Seanad: Water Conservation (15 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for her response. The problem for residents in the area is this has become such a priority on foot of 20 breaks since 1 January and there does not appear to be a solution. The county council has put in place pressure valves to try to resolve the problem to an extent by stopping the breakage that is taking place. However, this appears to be a temporary solution...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I would like to accommodate the Kerry Senators by suggesting that we reduce from six to five the number of Members of this House required to establish a group, thereby allowing them to organise their own debates in this House. I would like to raise an issue regarding the Private Residential Tenancies Board that needs to be dealt with because of its importance for tenants and landlords. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I wish to follow up on the VAT reduction in the tourism industry. One of the proposals at European level in 2009 related to the construction industry. In this country the number of people working in the construction industry has decreased from 270,000 to 106,000. One of the proposals at European level in 2009 was about the introduction of a 5% VAT rate for construction projects under a...

Seanad: EU Presidency: Statements, Questions and Answers (Resumed) (10 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for taking time out of her busy schedule to be with us today. Figures show 70% of people involved in research and development from outside the European Union go to the United States to work. Can we take a positive approach during our Presidency to dealing with that issue by making Europe a more attractive location for research, especially in the health field?...

Seanad: Protection of Children's Health from Tobacco Smoke Bill 2012: Second Stage (9 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister and I welcome the Bill put forward by Senator Crown, seconded by Senator van Turnhout and supported by Senator Daly. This is a welcome development. The Government side will look at it very carefully as there may be additional proposals or amendments made so that it can be fully implemented and be enforced. However, the overall attitude of the Government is to take on...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I agree with Senator Quinn about the importance of voting "Yes" in this referendum and of replying to Senator Cullinane. The Government has been to the fore in pushing for the creation of jobs and I refer to three examples - PayPal, Eli Lilly and Apple. Today's newspapers list job announcements over the past six months. It is important we generate a positive news story about what is being...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I need to correct the record in regard to something I said on the Order of Business on 23 April. I quoted a figure of 4,000 instead of 400 and €32 million instead of €3.2 million. At my request, the Leader corrected it on the day but I understand that to correct the record, I need to do so myself. I refer to the management companies of apartment complexes. Reading a report in the Irish...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I want to raise an issue relating to a young lad called Calum Geary who today is receiving a transplant due to his inability to hear. He cannot hear any sound and the procedure is known as a bionic implant.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2012)

Colm Burke: I raise the case because it relates to the treatment abroad fund and the support that it has given to the family in ensuring the transplant took place. I wish to raise the issue of the EU cross-border healthcare directive passed in February 2011 and we have 30 months to implement it. I have contacted the Department of Health on a number of occasions and there has been no indication of when...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2012)

Colm Burke: First, I acknowledge and thank the Fianna Fáil leader, Deputy Martin, for coming on board in respect of the treaty and the forthcoming referendum. It is important to acknowledge-----

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2012)

Colm Burke: It is easy to be opposed to things in opposition but it is extremely helpful and welcome that he has come on board and has been extremely supportive of the referendum. I also acknowledge all members of the Fianna Fáil party in this regard. Like all Cork people, we stick together and after last Sunday in particular, when Mayo was not as lucky, the Cathaoirleach has realised this. Members...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Apr 2012)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister for the detailed contribution on the Bill. There has been a significant increase in the demands on the social welfare system. People drawing social welfare do not have a choice because of the changes in the employment market. In 2010, €20.8 billion was paid out in social welfare when the yield from income tax was slightly over €11 billion. Last year, the yield...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Colm Burke: I assure Senator Barrett that the solicitors in the country are not the cause of anti-competitive practice. As proof, the first case taken to a European court relating to anti-competitive practice was dealt with by a firm of Cork solicitors against Comhlacht Siúcra Éireann, which refused to sell sugar to distributors and decided to sell directly to shops. That was one of the first cases...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Apr 2012)

Colm Burke: I would like to raise the issue of absenteeism in the health service. It may have been raised previously but I would like to raise it again because it is important at a time when there is much difficulty in making ends meet in the health service. There was a 19% absenteeism rate in one hospital in this country for the month of January. One out of every five workers was not at work when...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Colm Burke: I am surprised by that last contribution. The Senator was elected by the university graduates and my understanding is that when somebody is elected, their role is to give leadership. I hope Senator Norris is circulating all his voters with the details of the treaty because that is our role in politics.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Colm Burke: If Senator Norris cannot read the document, I would have no difficulty in sitting down and going through each paragraph with him.