Latest news with #ColmBurke
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Motorway toll barriers will not be lifted for fans driving to All-Ireland hurling final
Motorway toll barriers will not be lifted for fans driving to the All-Ireland hurling final on Sunday week but Irish Rail has pledged that anything that can move will be used to get fans to the match. It comes amid calls from all public transport operators to up their game to meet the unprecedented demand for attendance at the first ever Cork and Tipperary All-Ireland hurling final. Irish Rail said it is still working on the logistics to deliver extra services from both Cork and Tipperary on July 20, with an announcement expected later this week. A spokesman said they want to identify all available rolling stock and finalise staffing arrangements before announcing all of the available extra services together. 'But you can take it that anything we can get moving, will be moving on the day,' a spokesperson said. 'I would also remind customers, however, that they can only board the train for which they have booked.' The reminder was issued after some fans who had booked later trains tried to board earlier departures from Heuston station after Saturday's semi-final. Toll booths Meanwhile, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said toll barriers will not be lifted on All-Ireland Sunday, despite complaints of long tailbacks at some of the motorway toll booths ahead of last Saturday's semi-final. Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, Colm Burke said he was stuck in traffic for 70 minutes at the toll booth which leads on to the motorway south of Fermoy on his way to the match on Saturday morning. 'They have two barriers here but just one barrier was opening, and it was rejecting coins as well,' he said. 'It was crazy that people were delayed that long. They knew there was going to be a lot of traffic and all the barriers should have been properly managed and it appears that they weren't. 'If they couldn't operate it properly, they should have just opened the barriers.' Constituency colleague, Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould, said he wrote to TII last week about toll delays and was told there wouldn't be an issue. 'This wasn't the case and there were huge traffic jams all day Saturday with people trying to attend the match. This is dangerous on motorways and it cannot be allowed to happen again,' he said. 'TII needs to consider lifting this barrier for the busiest times as people need to be able to get to Dublin safely. They make more than enough money from tolls every other day of the year, this is about safety.' But TII said the barriers won't be lifted and fans should prepare accordingly. A spokesman said the State has contractual agreements in place with toll operators under existing public private partnerships. 'Therefore, any removal of tolls would have to be paid for by the state to the private operators,' a spokesman said. 'The existing toll system is a user pays system, if you don't use the motorway you don't pay. Any changes to that would mean people not using the motorway would be subsidising the motorway user.' He said TII has been engaged with toll operators and requested them to be fully prepared for the demands that will be placed on their tolling operations on All Ireland Sunday. TII said it has asked the operators to ensure that all toll lanes are open and fully staffed at the peak travelling times, both before and after the game.
Irish Examiner
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Work on Cork taskforce 'ongoing' as Fine Gael appoints first ever spokesperson on city
Fine Gael has appointed its first ever spokesperson on Cork with the Tánaiste insisting that work is ongoing to establish the city taskforce his party promised within the first 100 days of government. Simon Harris was speaking during a visit to Cork on Friday as he announced that Cork North Central TD Colm Burke will play a leading role in ensuring that the 'issues that matter most to the people of Cork are front and centre of the government's agenda'. In the run-up to the general election last November, Fine Gael ministers Helen McEntee and Paschal Donohoe announced their party's commitment to the establishment of a new Cork City Taskforce within the first 100 days of government to rejuvenate the city centre and drive major infrastructure projects. That 100-day deadline passed in early May. Mr Harris insisted that the taskforce is still 'a very clear commitment' in the program for government but said there is still a bit of work to be done on it. Simon Harris said Colm Burke (pictured) brings a wealth of experience to the new role as Fine Gael spokesperson on Cork and that one of the areas that must be prioritised is the delivery of the new taskforce. File picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos He said Mr Burke, a former senator and minister, brings a wealth of experience to the new role as Fine Gael spokesperson on Cork and that one of the areas that must be prioritised is the delivery of the new taskforce. 'This is something that government is working on and I think the example we have seen in Dublin shows that a taskforce will benefit businesses and communities alike,' he said. 'We have seen the difference it can make in Dublin this week, where government, local government and community stakeholders, work together and say 'what's our common vision – let's stop this silo (thinking), that's a job for the council, that's a job for the government, that's a job for somebody else – let's actually pull together and say where do we want the city to be over the next 10 to 15 years. 'We've now done it in Dublin. It needs to happen in Cork.' He declined to discuss in detail its funding allocation, pending a detailed analysis of what might be required, or to comment on whether the establishment of a 'special purpose vehicle' will be required through which the funding would be channelled. But he said the model followed by the Dublin taskforce could be replicated in the second city. He said: The Dublin plan looks at a variety of things, as I imagine a Cork one would too. It looks at dereliction, at vacancy, at how you can bring landmark buildings back into use. 'It looks at how you can have a common vision for your city. It looks at safety and policing. It looks at a whole variety of things.' But he added: 'The government will have to consider when it wants to press go on that (the Cork taskforce) in due course, and then obviously the composition of it as well.' Mr Burke said with a growing population, Cork needs to see the development of key infrastructure such as the Cork to Limerick road and the northern distributor road for the area to thrive. 'I am committed to working with the businesses across Cork, who have given such vibrancy to the region,' he said. 'Our pharmaceutical, IT, and service industries are thriving, and we want to see new locations identified to ensure continued development of this industry and all businesses in Cork.'
The Irish Sun
01-06-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Warning as sale of disposable vapes comes into effect TODAY in Northern Ireland – as alert issued to drivers who vape
A BAN on the sale and supply of disposable vapes kicks off in Northern Ireland today. Only reusable vapes will be sold from June 1 with the government crackdown aimed at preventing youths from picking up the habit and protecting the environment. 3 Disposable vapes can no longer supplied or sold in Northern Ireland Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 An alert has also been issued to drivers who vape Credit: Getty Images - Getty The Irish TD Colm Burke welcomed the approval from the Government to draft legislation on the ban last year. He said: 'Our young people are exposed to nicotine inhaling products in retail environments with bright and colourful packaging and a variety of flavours. 'Single-use READ MORE ON HEALTH 'I believe that these measures will contribute to the better health and wellbeing of our youth, and I look forward to working with Minister Donnelly on the development of this legislation.' Minister Ossian Smyth added: 'Single-use vapes are a challenge in the context of waste management and are a wasteful use of critical raw materials. 'They are also very damaging to the environment when discarded as litter.' Some 46 per cent of 17-18 year-olds (year 14 Most read in The Irish Sun Strategic Lead for Tobacco Control with the PHA, Colette Rogers, said: 'The accessibility and low price of single use vapes have played a part in increasing their availability and shareability among young people, so the ban on these types of devices is an opportunity to address the concerning levels of vaping among teenagers. 'The new law means that products will only be compliant if they are refillable and rechargeable. Police raid largest spice vapes operation after kids were left hospitalised 'We welcome this and hope it reduces the number of vapes in active use, and are asking parents and carers to use it as an opportunity to discourage The Irish Heart Foundation has called on the government to ban the 'import, manufacture, and sale of single-use or disposable vapes'. The charity wants to see a ban introduced on all vape flavours, except tobacco flavour. They are calling for a complete ban on all forms of vape advertisements, including Point-of-Sale (POS) and online. The group are asking the government to introduce plain packaging for vapes and stop the online sale of vapes. They are also calling to increase the legal age of sale of all forms of e-cigarettes to 21. Car insurance expert and Managing Director of CompareNI, Ian Wilson, warned drivers of the dangers of using refillable vapes behind the wheel as the ban kicks in. He said: 'For anyone who plans on switching over to reusable vapes after the ban comes into force, you should be aware that using these devices while driving could see you end up on the wrong side of the law. 'Reusable vapes are more powerful than single use vapes and produce a much larger and denser cloud of vaper. These thicker clouds can fog up the windscreen and block your vision, posing a danger to yourself and other road users. 'Also, these devices tend to be larger and heavier than disposable vapes, so handling them, adjusting the controls or refilling the liquid when behind the wheel can divert your attention away from the road and may lead to serious consequences. 'If you are involved in an accident and the police deem that vaping was a contributing factor, you could be charged with careless driving and face a fine of up to £5,000 (€5,930) and nine penalty points – or even a discretionary driving ban.' 3 Disposable vapes have now been banned from the shelves of all shops in NI Credit: Jacob King/PA Wire
Irish Examiner
31-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Ireland facing dentist shortage as training places stagnate for nearly 30 years
The number of college training places for dentists has remained the same for almost three decades despite a major recruitment crisis and severe backlogs in parts of the country. That is according to Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central Colm Burke, who has called for increased college places. Each year, there is huge interest in studying dentistry, with college course entry determined by exceptionally high CAO points. However, despite major increases in the population, the number of dental school places has failed to increase significantly. International students from outside of the EU also make up a high percentage of those studying dentistry here. In the Dáil, Mr Burke said there were 1,432 dentists offering to provide dental care under the public scheme in 2012. By 2024, this had fallen to 810. "Going back 30 or 40 years, most older people tended to have dentures. That has now totally changed so there are now more older people who require dental treatment as well." The Department of Health has acknowledged that there are 2,420 dentists in the country, Mr Burke said. "That is 47 dentists per 100,000 people or one dentist per 2,125 people." 'We need to forward plan,' he added. Even if, in the morning, we decided to increase the number of places, it would still take five years before the students would be out there. In University College Cork, there are currently 61 final year students of which 36 are non-EU students, he said. At Trinity College Dublin, there are 46 final year students, of which 21 are non-EU students. He added: "We need to decrease the number of non-EU students and increase the number of Irish and other EU students. 'We do not have to put extra money into it, except to replace the money the colleges are getting from non-EU students with money from the department so we can improve and increase the number of training places available.' The Irish Dental Association has suggested to decrease the number of non-EU students to 20%, he added. 'It did not say to cut them out completely, but to reduce the number. 'We were to build a new dental school in Cork, we had identified a site, we got the planning permission, funding was not available, and the whole project was abandoned. "Now we are in a scenario where we have population growth, people are living longer, and we do not have the dentists to look after them.' In response, minister of State Marian Harkin said approximately 60 places were available each year to students on dentistry courses until this year. "The department recognises that this represents a limited training pipeline at a time when the demand for oral healthcare, both clinical and preventative, is increasing nationally." The number of places offered is a matter for the higher education institutions, she added. However, due to a high level of practical work, there can be constraints on the number of students that can be accepted onto dentistry courses, she said. The Department of Health is conducting a scoping exercise to support a skills assessment across the oral healthcare sector.
