Results 20,501-20,520 of 24,351 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: National Housing Development Survey Report: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Exactly, but with no transport, no amenities and unfinished estates in terms of roads, lighting, sewerage, rat infestation and dangerous and unhygienic housing conditions. We must address the issue in some way. We have an obligation to the people we represent to put in place a model that will allow estates to be finished. I do not necessarily agree with Senator Doherty's remarks. We need a...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: How many weeks?

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I commend Senator Boyle for asking for honesty. Will we get the full facts from the Government, given that at every opportunity the Minister for Finance has changed position? Will the Leader clarify the remarks he made yesterday in the Irish Examiner regarding being able to live on €65,000? They must be clarified because there is a perception among the public that many politicians are out...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I asked the Leader if the House would sit next Tuesday and he has not replied.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Is the House sitting on Tuesday? It is a simple question.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: On what basis?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The Leader cannot blame the staff.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The Leader did.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Will the Leader give the House a commitment that he will hold a pre-budget debate on the state of the economy next week? Will he indicate, in the light of the economic crisis the country is facing, whether the House will sit next Tuesday? It is important that we recognise that politics is not continuing as usual. As Members of this House, we must play our part by sitting next Tuesday and...

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I was struck by Senator O'Malley's euphoric speech. I wish her well with her colourful revisionism.

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The facts are the facts. The Senator is dead right. Governments of various hues since 1997 have brought us to where we are. Small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the lifeblood of our communities, are in serious trouble. I agree with Senator O'Malley that we need to get our house in order. We need to ensure this country's SME sector survives. I am concerned we will have nothing...

Seanad: Announcement on Banking by the Minister for Finance: Statements (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. Listening to Senator Mooney's remarks I was struck by the fact we must live in different worlds. If one walks or drives around the city and county of Cork, or even around the capital city or many of the main provincial towns, one will see "To Let" signs aplenty in idle and empty buildings. While I agree with the Minister of State's sentiment...

Seanad: Announcement on Banking by the Minister for Finance: Statements (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Announcement on Banking by the Minister for Finance: Statements (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Through the Chair, please.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Panel Members)(Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Bill which I will support. I ask the Minister of State and Members opposite to clarify the remarks made by the Leader at a conference held in Listowel at which I believe he endorsed the Bill and promised Government support for it in Government time. Is that the case? If it is, why is the Government doing a U-turn and reneging on its commitment?

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Panel Members)(Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Therein lies the crux that we all face as elected representative in this House. The political process has failed the people. That is what they believe. They believe we have let them down, that, in particular, Fianna Fáil in government has let them down. They also believe the Government is bereft of leadership and cannot be trusted. As such, they do not have confidence in the main...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Panel Members)(Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: How is that a means of having confidence in a House of which we are Members? How can one have confidence in a House that is meant to be an Upper House rather than a mini Dáil? I am as guilty as anybody for creating a mini Dáil out of this House but understand that we must become realists and consider how we respond. If we are to have confidence in one another and create an Upper House...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Panel Members)(Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: If we want to reform the House, we should talk about all of us, bearing in mind that none of us is perfect. I agree with Senator O'Toole that the House, as presently constituted, cannot keep going. We need to reform the manner in which we get elected. I am not a bit afraid of having change. We should have a referendum to vote on change in the manner in which all of us are elected. I refer...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I join with Senator Bacik in calling for a series of debates on the economy in the run up to the budget. In welcoming the talks today, I wish the leaders of Fine Gael and the Labour Party well in their task of getting the truth from the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance because today must be about truth. Will we get the truth from the Government about the State's finances? Can the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Ellis is wrong because the party leaders are meeting the Taoiseach today.