Results 21,621-21,640 of 24,351 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Flood Relief (1 Dec 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister of State. It is important that we make the scheme non-bureaucratic, accessible and fast for the people affected.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Chathaoirligh for allowing me to raise this matter. Cuirim fáilte roimh an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Seán Haughey. I am raising this issue in connection with St. Francis College in Rochestown. It concerns the success story of a school that went through lean times. The Capuchin Order made a brave decision to appoint a lay principal, and the school has made a tremendous leap...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I neglected to say in my earlier remarks that I knew the meeting took place on Monday with the departmental officials. In his reply, the Minister of State referred to "the requisite pre-architectural issues", but when will those be concluded? When will the school be notified as to the next step in the process?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I disagree fundamentally with Senators Ó Murchú and Quinn. It is political opportunism to say we should forget about the past when we know that past Government policies have brought us to where we are now. To learn from the past we must ensure we never again follow those policies. It was not the ordinary citizens but the high financiers in the banking profession, developers and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Yesterday, Oireachtas representatives from Cork met with the ESB to discuss the flooding in the city of Cork last weekend. I understand the Minister, Deputy Gormley, is frustrated at what has happened but it is wrong to blame councillors for this. The zoning of land does not automatically ensure planning permission. We all know that planning permission is the preserve not of the local...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brady, and thank her for coming to the House. It is disappointing the Minister, Deputy Gormley, is not in the Chamber. This debate is about looking after people following the destruction of their homes and livelihoods. In the city of Cork there is no running water and flooding is continuing. Extraordinary efforts have been made by front-line services...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: There are inconsistencies in what the Minister of State is saying. We are removing the element of accountability. What is the tic-tac between the county council and the regional authority? I repeat the question asked by Senator Coffey about who has the power to be the final arbitrator. I am concerned that we are vesting this power in the few and that we are making them powerful. The...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: It does.

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Cuirim fáilte roimh an tAire Stáit. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, and thank him for the work he is doing. I begin by extending my sympathy and solidarity with the people of Cork, Galway, Clare and elsewhere who have been hit by flooding. No words of mine can adequately express the devastation and loss that people feel as a result of this flooding, whether they are in...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I believed we were to continue until 2.40 p.m. given that we adjourned until 1.40 p.m.

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: That is fine.

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Chair.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Cuirim fáilte roimh an tAire Stáit. As Senator Coffey rightly stated, we do not understand the rationale behind this section. In the context of where we are going as a society, local area plans have never been more necessary. If we are to talk of creating hierarchies, let us start at the bottom and work up. I am interested in determining where we will go. The local area plan is our...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Is he taking away the power from his local authorities and members and keeping them like mushrooms in the dark with no sustainable plan?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: Perhaps that is why Fianna Fáil is doing this. It knows it has lost control and will not be back for another generation. This is serious. It is a question of representing people and giving them a say in their own area. We are taking power from them and diluting local democracy. The Minister of State should really examine this again.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: The Minister seems to be at cross-purposes regarding this because if what the Minister is saying is correct, why is a new section being inserted in the Bill? I have a difficulty with this. The Minister is erroneous in his view that Fine Gael is opposed to the national spatial strategy. It is not, but who endorses it? Who writes it? Where are the checks and balances in the national...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: On a point of information, will the Leader clarify-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: This is important.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: On a point of order, the Leader has amended the Order of Business for today and I am seeking clarification from him.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Jerry Buttimer: This is a matter of importance to the people I represent and the people in general. I ask the Leader to explain to the House the exact format from 1.30 p.m.-----