Ninth Level Ireland

“SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has backed a call from a Fine Gael TD for the establishment of a cross-border university named after Nobel Peace Laureate John Hume in the north-west. Cork North Central Deputy Colm Burke said the idea for a north-south university, which was a largely ignored part of the Government’s proposals on the legacy of the Troubles in July, should be given serious consideration by the Republic …” (more)

[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 19 August]

“Derry is the fifth largest city on the island of Ireland, closely matching Limerick in population size. Of the six largest cities on the Island, Derry is the only one without a university. The decision in 1965 to establish Northern Ireland’s second university, now Ulster University, in Coleraine and not in Derry was strongly influenced by political and sectarian considerations …” (more)

[Colm Burke TD, Irish News, 28 June]

“Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of the Munster technological university; his views on the areas in which technological universities will fit in the further and higher education landscape in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 15 December]

“Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if students that have taken a gap year from their studies following the leaving certificate 2019 will receive support from his Department in the CAO process to ensure comparability between an unprecedented 2019 and 2020; if there are substantial increases in CAO points in the leaving certificate 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 10 September]

“A member of the Irish parliament has reiterated his support for a John Hume Memorial University saying it could benefit Derry in the same way university expansion enabled Cork to prosper. In the coming days Cork-based Fine Gael TD Colm Burke will be raising the issue of a cross-border university with the intention of having it adopted as party policy …” (more)

[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 10 September]

“Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the application by Ireland to become a full member of CERN will be progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 14 July]

“Ireland must apply for membership of the world-renowned European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) in order to combat the effect of Brexit and boost university rankings. That is according to Cork senator Colm Burke as the campaign to join Cern gains momentum, after Ireland recently became a member of the European Space Observatory …” (more)

[Pádraig Hoare, Irish Examiner, 29 September]

“There are growing calls for Ireland to join the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) in order to capitalise on €300m worth of commercial projects as well as encouraging more Irish students to enter the scientific field …” (more)

[Pádraig Hoare, Irish Examiner, 22 August]

“Sir, – Kevin O’Sullivan’s report on Senator Colm Burke’s discussion on the question of Ireland’s membership of Cern (European Organisation for Nuclear Research ) with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar reflects a campaign that has run for over five decades …” (more)

[Denis O’Sullivan, Irish Times, 19 August]

“Ireland is losing out on major research contracts by not being a member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Fine Gael Senator Colm Burke has claimed. CERN is the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. It operates particle accelerators including the famous Large Hadron Collider …” (more)

[Kevin O’Sullivan, Irish Times, 15 August]

“Reading the Irish Times this morning what does one see but the following report from the Seanad …” (more)

[The Cedar Lounge Revolution, 18 April]

“Senator Colm Burke: My query relates to third level grants. I understand this is not the Minister’s area, but I presume he has been provided with a response on it. In the past three weeks I have been in contact with two people who have dropped out of college …” (more)

[Seanad Éireann, 17 October]

“The majority of medical students graduating this year want to stay working in Ireland but believe they will have little alternative than to move overseas, according to a survey …” (more)

[Noel Baker, Irish Examiner, 26 June]

“Fine Gael Cork Senator and the Seanad Spokesperson on Health, Senator Colm Burke, has said the issues that are forcing Irish medical graduates and interns to move abroad to complete their training or to gain experience must be addressed so that their skills can be retained in Ireland for the benefit of everyone …” (more)

[CorkPolitics, 23 April]