Results 21,481-21,500 of 24,351 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: As Senator McFadden stated, the backlog in processing asylum seekers is inhumane. I am pleased the Leader is present because last week on the Order of Business Government Senators gave us a lecture on human rights. Opposition Members were subjected to a litany of abuse from some so-called human rights experts. What does this section say about the Government's commitment and attitude to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I questioned the Minister earlier in the context of the Irish Dental Association study. She speaks about competition. My concern is that, from talking to those involved in dental practices, I am genuinely concerned that this will lead to a loss of people providing the service. I appreciate that the Minister claims it is not gone, which I understand. However, the nature of the changes in...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: One third of men under the age of 25 are signing on, which is an increase of 158% in the past two years. In Cork alone, approximately 7,700 young people are signing on. Despite what the Minister said, an element of discrimination against young people is being introduced in the section. I do not agree that we have provided sufficient training and education places. The Minister referred...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: That is not the case.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The Minister is not correct.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Just the way he likes it.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Once again, there is confusion and a lack of clarity. The Minister speaks about aligning it with taxation, which is fair enough, but my fundamental difficulty is that this comes into operation on 1 January 2010. Today is 16 December. If the Bill is passed and signed into law when will it come into effect? My point is that between 22 or 23 December to 4 January everything is shut...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I do not speak for the Irish Dental Association and, as with Senator Norris, I am not particularly concerned about the diminution of dentists' income. The important point is the effect of the measure on patients and dental and oral hygiene. The Minister is of a generation when dentists visited schools, although in Cork we went to City Hall. As Senator McFadden pointed out, by restricting...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I missed some of the Minister's contribution concerning dentists who start work on patients before 31 December.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I take it the work will continue, they can claim retrospectively and approval is granted by the dentist. The Minister referred to competition and Senator Burke made a good point about how people are travelling abroad to other jurisdictions. The Irish Dental Association made a submission commenting that a new economic study shows that with removal of subsidised and free treatment the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: How long will it take for the dentist to get approval from the Department? If somebody tomorrow morning goes to the dentist and makes an appointment to start work on dentures, root canal work or bridging, how long will it take? The Minister stated the dentist has to get approval from the Department. Will that process take weeks or days? Will the fact the dentist made contact with the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The explanatory memorandum outlines the introduction of a four-year time limit. Why is the Minister imposing a time limit? People make a contribution to their State pension. I have received telephone inquiries about this section in the context of the return of contributions as outlined in section 8(3). Is the Minister in some way creating a back-door system to deprive people of their...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Much of what I want to say has been said by Senator Norris. This is a bit like Big Brother.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: This a bit like Big Brother. To paraphrase Senator Norris, the State is out to get the citizen. It is putting an unfair burden on the contributor, the taxpayer. I understand from where the Minister is coming but it should work both ways. The malaise in social welfare will further confuse people. Is the Minister open to holding a series of information meetings around the country with...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: He is speaking sense.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: We supported the bank recapitalisation the first day.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The Government abolished the Christmas bonus and cut payments to the poor, the handicapped and the blind.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: That is an unfair comment. Senator Healy Eames has the facts to hand.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State and remind him that he is vested with the power of a Minister of State. I remind him that he is also an elected representative for the people of Cork. He spoke about a stimulus but this budget has no stimulus package. The Cork docklands, with which the Minister of State is familiar, have been cast to one side. Other Senators mentioned the national spatial...

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Some Members are afraid to go out. I understand that and I do not blame Members on the Government side. I know that Senator O'Malley agrees with me.