Results 1-20 of 2,356 for at speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services (16 May 2024)

Colm Burke: Thank you a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I am here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly to reply to this Commencement matter. I thank Senator Carrigy for the opportunity to address the issue of specialised dentistry within the public service. The salaried HSE public dental service providers offer care to several groups of patients including those with complex and additional needs. In...

Delivering Universal Healthcare: Statements (15 May 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank all Deputies for their contributions. It has been a useful discussion around delivering on a goal that we all share in this House. The programme for Government set out the pathway for expanding universal access to healthcare in a manner that is fair and affordable. The Government has delivered and is continuing to deliver on that commitment. The final progress report on the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (15 May 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I apologise that the Minister for Justice cannot be here this morning. She has asked me to deal with the matter on her behalf. First, I express the Government’s condolences and my own to the families whose loved ones were killed and to those who were injured in the terrible events of 17 May 1974. It is hard to believe that, on a day...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Dental Services (14 May 2024)

Colm Burke: I fully understand where the Deputy is coming from in relation to any person having difficulty accessing dental care. It is clearly set out in the statement, "The HSE is required to support the provision of emergency care to adult medical card holders who have difficulty accessing a local dentist." Access to dental care, including for adult medical card holders, is a top priority for the...

Seanad: Loneliness: Motion (1 May 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Green Party Senators for bringing forward this motion. I thank all Senators for their constructive contributions. I believe 12 Senators contributed to the debate and I appreciate all of their contributions. The Minister for Health is not opposing the motion. Therefore, it is important that in dealing with something like this we work together and are constructive. The motion,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres (1 May 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Deputy again for raising this issue. An objective of the programme for Government is to deliver increased levels of integrated healthcare, with service delivery reoriented towards general practice, primary care and community-based services to enable a home first approach in line with the Sláintecare goal of receiving the right care in the right place at the right time. ...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres (1 May 2024)

Colm Burke: The proposed centres for Oughterard and Spiddal are at expression of interest stage-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres (1 May 2024)

Colm Burke: I have only been in this position for the last two weeks. I think this is now my third week. I got notice that I had been asked to deal with this matter late yesterday evening. I have no difficulty coming into this House and dealing with any Topical Issue matter in relation to health. I know now that I might end up regretting saying this, but it is my responsibility to come in here to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (30 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: The Deputy has made a very strong case in respect of his constituent. It is important that I take on board what he has said and that we continue to try to improve the services. The Minister for Health is assuring children and their families that the Government will continue to invest significant funding to help clinicians to reduce the time for which children must wait for important...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (30 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: The Deputy has given a very good and detailed explanation of the challenges Anna and her family face. I fully understand the situation because I have also come across constituents facing similar challenges. I am here on behalf of the Minister for Health. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter of children on waiting lists for scoliosis surgery. The Minister acknowledges that waiting...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Funding (24 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Acting Chairperson and Senator Kyne for their kind remarks. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the current position of the schools building programme and the imminent payment of minor works and ICT grants. Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (24 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: I apologise to the Acting Chair, as I did not say at the start that I was taking the Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health. Likewise, the previous Commencement matter was taken on behalf of the Minister for Education. To conclude, the Minister for Health is aware of the needs of the diabetes community and the challenges faced by those living with the condition. Type 1...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (24 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank Deputy Gould for raising this issue and for his consistent engagement in respect of the SouthDoc treatment centre. I am dealing with this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. The Minister fully understands that the Deputy is acting out of a genuine concern, his own and that of his constituents, regarding the ongoing...

National Cancer Strategy: Motion [Private Members] (16 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: ...to begin by echoing my colleague, Deputy Butler, in her opening remarks, and to thank her for the constructive and positive contributions to this important motion on the issue of funding for the national cancer strategy. I apologise that the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, cannot be here this evening, as I understand he is dealing with legislation in the Seanad. I acknowledge the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sport and Recreational Development (16 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank Senator Lombard for raising this matter. I am here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, and Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, to respond and provide an update. The sports capital and equipment programme, SCEP, is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (16 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank Senator Clonan for raising this important matter today, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. The personal assistant service was developed to provide a service for adults with physical disabilities that enables them to live their lives as independently as possible and take decision-making control. Persons with a disability determine the support they...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Abortion Services (16 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank Senator Hoey for her contributions in the Joint Committee on Health. I enjoyed being on that committee with her. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, has asked me to deal with this Commencement matter. I thank the Senator for giving me this opportunity to address the House on the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. The Act was...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (16 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: It is a very important issue and these are very important developments in the area. On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The primary care centres provide important primary care infrastructure and can support the delivery of integrated care by facilitating closer co-ordination and co-operation between health professionals across different disciplines. They...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Funding and Implementation of the National Cancer Strategy: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses very much for their presentation, and for all of the work they and their organisation are doing in highlighting issues. I will open on the numbers requiring care and treatment. With the increase in population of over 40% in 23 years, have we increased capacity? I am not saying we are going to have a 40% rise in cancer cases but if you have an increase in population,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Funding and Implementation of the National Cancer Strategy: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Colm Burke: Do the witnesses believe there is a need for further action in the area of public health and in making people more aware? The earlier a cancer is identified, the greater the chance of survival. Does Ms Power believe we are doing enough in this area at the moment?