Results 4,821-4,840 of 24,398 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: We must nail the myth that the Government is closing rural Ireland down. On the contrary, the Government is keeping rural Ireland open. I will not have a row on the last day of the term, but let us not talk rural Ireland down. Let us remove the myth altogether. It behoves us all to support rural Ireland, be it the farmers, SMEs, shopkeepers, retailers or whoever.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Let us shop local. And-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: There you go again. You always come in with the béal bocht.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I accept that there are challenges in insurance, but not one Senator from the Opposition benches who spoke about insurance gave any recognition to the facts that car insurance and house insurance were reducing, legislative proposals had been put in place and the Minister of State had set up the cost of insurance working group.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: The béal bocht will get the headline.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: The béal bocht will always get the headline and Members' votes. That is what this is about. I accept that. In 2020, let us bring perspective and give a bit of praise to the Government, which is trying to do something.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Senators Bacik, McDowell and Higgins and many other Members of the House spoke very eloquently about the sad and tragic passing of Cormac Ó Braonáin. I was not here for the Order of Business yesterday. On behalf of Fine Gael and on my own behalf, I offer deepest sympathies to his family, his parents and the members of the Labour Party. He was a fine young man who was making a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I was not referring to the Senator. If the Senator took notice of what I was saying, she would know I am not talking about being against any issue. This is about one issue that unites all of us in the House. We should have a forum for debate and consultation with a view to ending the scourge of domestic violence in our society. As Senator Lawlor said, this issue affects men as well. It...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Senator Ruane. She did not get an opportunity in her contribution to address the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 which is coming before the House later on. In light of that fact, and to be fair to Senator Ruane who has done a great deal of work on this issue, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business with regard to that Bill. I propose we extend debate by an...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes. The Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes. My aim is to be fair to Senator Ruane. I want to try to work with most people in the House.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I will move the amendment at the end. I just want to inform Members.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Norris raised a very pertinent and valid point regarding the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service online system. Those of us who every week meet people who are dealing with this issue will know that it is very vexing and needs to be resolved. I have a very simple philosophy. There should always be a human interface in this matter. I do not think electronic means are good...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: It is dangerous. Senators Gallagher and Conway raised the issue of shopping locally. Senator Gallagher raised the issue of the precarious position of businesses in the Border area in the context of Brexit. If all of us, including those watching and listening at home or sitting in the Public Gallery, could shop locally rather than going online to Amazon and so on, it would be a huge help....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I am happy to refer the matter to the OPW.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: He is indeed. Senator Gavan raised the matter of human rights in Bahrain in the context of two people who are threatened with execution on Christmas Day. As I said before, there is a need for us, as a Government, to be very proactive with regard to human rights around the world and not to sell our soul for business. I have a very simple view on that. We must get the balance right. We...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I wish them a very peaceful and joyful Christmas. They are the unsung heroes of this Upper House. I thank the men and women who work in the Oireachtas, in particular the men and women who record and tape us, and turn our microphones on and who make us look much better than what we are sometimes. I thank them for their unstinting professionalism and their ability to work very late in the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I wish all the Members and their families a happy, safe and joyful Christmas and a prosperous new year. Christmas is the tenderness for the past, the courage for the present, and the hope for the future. May all here have a great rest and we will see them all, please God, back in January.

Seanad: Oireachtas Secretarial Assistants: Motion (18 Dec 2019)

Jerry Buttimer: I second the motion.