Results 1-20 of 12,035 for speaker:Colm Burke

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Supports (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: I am a little concerned that we are 14 months on and we still do not have a shared funding model. People who are homeless are in the same position they were in this time last year; the question now is whether they will be in the same position this time next year. The issue needs to be prioritised. I met with the building owners recently. They are becoming concerned that this issue seems...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Supports (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: I raise an issue I dealt with when I was Minister of State at the Department of Health. It is about having an integrated homeless health hub in Cork city. In October 2024, I arranged a meeting between the Department of Health, the Department of housing, the HSE in Cork and Cork City Council. It was agreed that we would all work together to establish a day centre where people who were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: I refer to a person who has worked abroad to save money in order to come back and build a house in Ireland. Due to the contribution they are making to the cost of building, they are unable to receive any grants and are also excluded from solar energy grants. People with a set income are only entitled to borrow a certain amount of money. They may also receive support from parents....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: As I said, I am speaking about people who are restricted in the amount they can borrow. Therefore, they are receiving assistance from parents which brings them under the qualifying criteria. Many of the new houses that are being built have air to water systems which are very expensive. People are installing such systems but are getting no support from the State because they receive support...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: 88. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if consideration will be given to the provision of a solar PV grant for new build properties (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60399/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: 7. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline the way in which Ireland will balance its policy of military neutrality with increased engagement in EU defence co-operation during its 2026 EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60416/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: I ask the Tánaiste to outline the way in which Ireland will balance its policy of military neutrality with increased engagement in EU defence co-operation during the 2026 EU presidency, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: There are two issues I want to raise. One is in relation to the increase in numbers we require in our Naval Service. It is a big challenge. What progress can be made on that over the next 12 months? It is extremely important from our point of view and from a European point of view. The second issue concerns a scenario where we had peace in Ukraine. While we all want it, and it would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: It is an issue that is going to come up very much. If there is not peace in Ukraine by the time we hold the Presidency, the issue of Ukraine will be very much to the forefront in any EU discussions. We will then be required to provide leadership in that area. I think the Tánaiste will accept that it will be a challenge on the basis that no matter what happens, we cannot go in there...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: I am sorry but there is just one final thing I want to mention and that is the respect that Ireland and the Irish Army has. I have been in two conflict zones where the Irish Army was. It is important we build on and maintain that and work in particular at a European level on it.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2025: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: Following up what was said on productivity levels, I was on a site on Friday. I know we are talking about apartments here, but this is in relation to semi-detached houses. The average timeframe for building a house is 28 weeks. I was on a site on Friday where they can turn around, build and complete a house in 12 weeks. They are working with Enterprise Ireland on this project. More than...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2025: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: I welcome the introduction of the 9% rate, which is reduced now from 13.5%. When originally proposed, it was 9% on sales and then there was a problem with housing agencies that own their own site and were getting apartments built. It turned out that it would be 13.5%. Since this amendment is being made, where they are getting them built the rate is down to 9%. The problem still arises...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2025: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: I have come across this issue, on which I agree with Deputy Timmins. In one case, someone who is actively farming and has zoned land has an agreement in place for the land to be developed but the local authority is delaying development through its preplanning process, which has taken over 18 months. In the meantime, the person is now liable for the tax even though they are actively pursuing...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Nov 2025)

Colm Burke: In Scotland, the RSV vaccination programme has resulted in a 62% reduction of people in the age group 75 to 79 being admitted to ICU. RSV is a respiratory virus that, despite being very common, can cause serious complications. We have a growing elderly population. The vaccination programme can help keep people out of hospital. Will the Government give serious consideration to introducing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Israeli Bond Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Colm Burke: I will be very brief. I do not want to go back over what has been raised. I apologise for being late. Unfortunately, I had an event in Cork today I had to come back up from. On the EU prospectus regulation, as a result of this issue with Israel coming up, has there been any discussion at European level? This same issue could arise with another country in 12 months' or two years' time....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Israeli Bond Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Colm Burke: The whole issue is about not having restrictions. What occurred in the country in question was appalling. It is genocide and there is no question about that. That state is able to borrow money to continue on. It will argue it was not used for the war itself but it is being used in the occupied territories, etc. Is there not now an obligation from a European point of view? The whole...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Israeli Bond Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Colm Burke: What I am asking is whether there has been a discussion on the need-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Israeli Bond Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Colm Burke: -----in the sense that when the EU process was established, it was about bringing peace and restoring peace.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Israeli Bond Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Colm Burke: But can central banks not-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Israeli Bond Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Colm Burke: Yes, but can central banks not look at this from their own point of view, because the process has to come through one of their units in whichever country it is? Is there then not a role for the central banks to play their part and maybe influence people from a political point of view as well?