Results 21,421-21,440 of 24,351 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I like a bit of bluster too and I am good to give it, but we need to have genuine interaction. The Minister and Senators have spoken about how we can implement reform and change. The Lisbon treaty, as we mentioned, has been passed which means European legislation and European scrutiny can come into this House. Rather than having an EU scrutiny committee, which is doing good work, it could...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: In the context of the electoral process of the Seanad, I certainly have no difficulty in holding the Seanad election on the same day or staggered from the general election, but we need to look at the context of the Seanad. Deputy Kenny's proposal to abolish the Seanad has set another debate going, but the motion is valuable. The Minister spoke about the establishment of an independent...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: I will tell Deputy Mary O'Rourke that when Senator Cassidy is running with her on the next occasion.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Deputy Mary O'Rourke, when he is running with her on the next occasion.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The Progressive Democrats is gone. It expired.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Cannon saw the light and was converted.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: It was not. The Senator is wrong. It was leadership.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Jerry Buttimer: The Leader should not heckle.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I appreciate the Chair's position but the section will penalise workers who earn €30,000 a year and whether the Minister likes it or not, that is not a huge salary when one considers many of them are young and paying huge mortgages and have significant negative equity. Interest rates will increase. I appreciate where the Government is coming from because this is the consequence of failed...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It is about the take-home pay of many people who I represent and I am also affected. As I stated yesterday I do not mind taking a pay cut because I can afford it. However, people working in hospitals and schools, the Defence Forces, the Garda Síochána and other front-line services cannot afford to take this cut and they are at their wits end. I appeal to Senator Hanafin and his Fianna...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State and I appreciate the time he is giving to this. This section is unfair to low paid public sector workers. This is the second Bill we have taken this week that has disproportionately laid the blame for what has happened at the door of public sector workers and social welfare recipients. As Senator Twomey said, Fine Gael proposed to take €1.2 billion off the...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I refer to this in the context of the 5% reduction on the first €30,000 of salary for public sector workers in table 3.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: He will be in here soon as Taoiseach.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: In welcoming the comments of Senator Ellis, I ask the Leader to bring the Taoiseach before the House in the new year. As we adjourn today, I disagree fundamentally with Senator Quinn. People have no confidence. They have no hope. The one thing they are sure about is that they want a change of Government. That is on the way. Fianna Fáil had a great slogan in the 1980s which claimed...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: He is a very welcome addition to us. I ask the Leader to bring in the Taoiseach and to call him to account for the role he and his party played in getting the people into a situation where they have less money, fewer jobs and no hope.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Glynn's Minister, the Government and the Bill we are discussing today are doing that.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Glynn should vote against the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It is Senator Glynn's Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.