Results 20,441-20,460 of 24,351 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: That is right. -----but they will not use the word "bailout". While listening to the Minister for Finance this morning, I noted that he danced around the issue. Unfortunately, it is time to embrace the reality that all Members deeply regret, which is that we have sold out our economic sovereignty for the sake of a few zombie banks. One should be clear that this does date back to the bank...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I second the amendment to the Order of Business. I join other speakers in extending sympathy to the bereaved families in Cork and Limerick. Two families and communities are numb. The events of yesterday illustrate that community and people matter more than ever. That is why it is important the mental health budget and every issue surrounding mental health is left untouched in the budget....

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I have a question for him. Members opposite have some cheek. How can they come in here and talk about a bailout and dig-outs because that is what we are talking about? It is their policies and votes in support of the Government that have brought us to where we are today. They drove the bus, doled out the money and lost sight of accountability and responsibility which they have never accepted.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Why have they not accepted responsibility and accountability? Why have they not been honest with the people? Why has the Government not been honest with them?

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The question is very simple. I will ask it again on behalf of the people. Why have members of the Government who are the elected represented of the people not been honest? The Minister for Social Protection, speaking on an RTE news programme last Sunday, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform and the Minister for Finance, speaking on radio this morning, all told lies to the people. As...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Ellis is getting wise in his old age.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Not today because of the state of the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I begin by reiterating the request for a debate tomorrow and for the Minister to come to the House. I wish the Minister well today in Brussels. This is about Ireland and about our people. As Senator Harris stated, it is not about a flag or sovereignty; it is about us as people. There must be no capitulation by us as people. We must stand for what we believe in, which is the Irish people...

Seanad: Overcrowding in Prisons: Statements (Resumed). (11 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Moloney. The report of Judge Reilly has been critical of the conditions in 14 prisons. Eleven of 15 prisons have situations of over-capacity. The role of our prison officers and the work they have done should be acknowledged, as Senator O'Malley noted, and they should be supported. They do extraordinary work but are undervalued,...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I join Senator O'Toole in asking for a debate on the Government's four-year plan. Senator Boyle made a good point, that we did not adhere to strict financial rules, and that is partly why we are in this mess. I ask that, as part of the debate on the four-year plan, the Government would introduce a stimulus plan which includes the construction of the metro north and the Cork docklands...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: It is also important that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Tánaiste come to the House to explain why we now have no sugar industry in this country. It is extraordinary that the European Union is now importing sugar when we have closed the Mallow and Carlow sugar beet factories. Was it out of pure greed, to look after friends of Fianna Fáil? Who gave the advice to...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: That decision was clearly wrong and the information was incorrect. We now have another example of a bad Government decision. It was bad Fianna Fáil-led Government policy that impacted on rural areas and the towns of Carlow and Mallow. It is important that the Minister, Deputy Smith, and the Tánaiste come to this House to explain the Government's policy.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: We are living beyond our means. He could say, like Charlie Haughey, that we are living beyond our means.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: It is monitoring local radio stations.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: There are more people in the Government Information Services than in the entire Civil Service.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is incorrect. The activities of the implementation body on the Croke Park agreement are dependent upon receiving schedules from Departments. Senator O'Toole is correct.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator O'Toole's remarks are pertinent. It is the Minister and senior civil servants who set policy. That is why we need to have a debate to receive clarification and a setting out by each Department of its objectives and targets regarding implementation. That must happen. Reform of the public sector, linked with the Fine Gael document, Reinventing Government, would empower and...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes you can.